IDGEWOOD 



PAST and 
PRESENT 



1866 
1916 



Si ' ^ 

...... ...o... 




Upper — Center of Ridgcwood, 1876 

Center — 10, 20 and 25 mile radius of Ridgewood 

Lower — Village and Township of Ridgewood, 1916 



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RIDGEWOOD 

BERGEN COUNTY 
NEW JERSEY 



PAST and PRESENT 



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PUBLISHED BY 

CITIZENS SEMI'CENTENNIAL 
ASSOCIATION 

RIDGEWOOD, N. J. 



DECEMBER 31. 1916 



COPYRIGHT BY CITIZENS SEMI-CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION 



Fa 



JUL 30 1917 



'CU470471 



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FOREWORD 

DURING the early part of 1916 a number of citizens recognizing 
the historic importance of the year in connection with the life 
of Ridge wood, brought to the attention of the Village authorities and 
the Independence Day Association, the idea of including in the usual 
celebration on Independence Day, the formal opening of the new station 
improvements and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the adoption of the 
name — Ridgewood. 

The Independence Day Association, therefore, called a meeting of 
the citizens, which developed the fact that the station improvements 
would not be completed by Independence Day. 

As a result, the Citizens Semi-Centennial Association was incor- 
porated to arrange for a proper celebration during the fall of the 
year. Committees were formed and plans developed to make the affair 
an epoch in the history of the community. 

On account of the prevalence of infantile paralysis in the adjacent 
communities and the danger of its being brought into the Village, it 
was necessary to abandon the plans. 

The Association felt, however, that the event should not pass with- 
out some recognition of a permanent character and, as a result, it was 
decided to enlarge upon the plans previously contemplated for a souvenir 
booklet of the occasion, with a consequent increase in the labor and 
time required in its preparation. 

This book is dedicated, therefore, to the present and future residents 
of our community in commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of 
the adoption of the name Ridgewood, and is intended not only for 
the citizen who would know something of Ridgewood 's past, but also 
for those who are interested in its present life and welfare. 

The Association is indebted to the Historical Committee for the story 
of our community's life which it contains, to the Publicity Committee 
for the fitting manner in which it is published, and to its members, 
who through their generosity have made the publication possible. 

Citizens Semi-Centennial Association. 

, . J |: I- , 

Note. — For list of oflicers and members of association, see Appendix. 



PREFACE 

AS directed by the general committee of the Citizens' Semi-Centen- 
nial Association, the Historical and Publicity Committees herein 
present the story of Ridgewood's past and present life. 

The history of many communities of our present day discloses the 
story of a development that would not be complete Avithout recording 
therein the place taken by each section — some older, others younger — 
which now compose their component parts, including those also which, 
due to governmental changes, no longer form a part of a particular 
territory. 

While this is also true of the present municipality of Ridgewood, 
Bergen County, N. J., in a book of this kind it is impracticable to tell 
in detail the story of each section, although, in the pages which follow, 
their relationship from the earliest times of the community will be found 
interwoven with its history. 

Our object has been to show not only a record, as complete as pos- 
sible, of Ridgewood's past, but also its present life, and in a manner 
that besides being of historical interest will be of practical value to 
those of the present and future who are interested in our community. 

With this object in view, the Historical Committee has spared no 
effort in seeking out and obtaining the necessary facts, including the 
solicitation of contributed articles from those of our citizens who are 
active in a particular phase of our community life. These articles, some 
of which appear practically as contributed, while others have been 
modified only as necessity demanded to adapt them to the general plan 
and scope of the booklet, were furnished by the following persons: 

Eerier, Mrs. de L. Milliken, F. W. 

De Yoe, J. Willard IMoloney, M. J. 

Dimock, F. A. Ockford, Dr. George M. 

Doremus, Judge Cornelius Parsons, J. B. 

Drinker, W. W. Rouclere, Harry 

Graydon. Samuel D. Sowter, E. T. 

Haight, W. H. Vail, C. Waldemar 

Hopper. Dr. John B. Van Neste, Rev. J. A. 
Howland. Miss Caroline E. Vroom, Dr. W. L. 

Kevser, F. L. \Yatson, Frederick V. 

Le Roy, Howard R. White, E. T. 

Maier, William H. White, Hon. George U. 

Marinus, John A. Willard, Dr. H. S. 

To these and to F. H. Bogert, Miss Florence De L. Bunco, H. J. 
Carroll, Mrs. Jos. W. Edwards, J. R, Eschelman, T. J. Foster, Hon. 
D, A. Garber, Robert Groves, Dr. A. G. Hopper, A. T. Hubschmitt, I. E. 
Hutton, Miss Irene C. Kelly, D. W. La Fetra, T. W. McMullen, Wilbur 
Morris, H. S. Patten, H. C. Pennal, Peter Pulis, A. B. Stearns, T. V. 
TerK\me, H. A. Tiee, Dr. W. A. Traey, Carl M. Vail, W. W. Wilsey and 



Geo. R. Young, as well as the citizens in general who have aided in the 
work, the Historical Committee takes this opportunity of acknowledging 
its indebtedness and expressing its appreciation of the assistance re- 
ceived. 

To the following publications and articles and to others less exten- 
sively consulted, the Historical Committee also wishes to acknowledge 
its indebtedness as sources of information relating to the various periods, 
subjects and phases of its work: 

Address by Rev. William H. Vroom, D.D. — Dedication of Tablet, 

Reformed Church of Paramus, July 4, 1914. 
Addresses of Judge David D. Zabriskie relating to the history of 

Ridgewood and vicinity. 
All the Days of My Life. — An Autobiography by Amelia E. Barr. 
Annual Reports of the Village of Ridgewood. 
Appraisal of the property of the Bergen Aqueduct Company and 

Bergen Water Company, by E. D. Winters, 1915. 
Archives of the State of New Jersey. 
Atlas of Bergen County, N. J., by A. H. Walker and C. C. Pease, 

1876. 
Between the Ocean and The Lakes, The Story of the Erie, by 

E. H. Mott, 1899. 
Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, N. J., by 

C. B. Harvey, 1900. 
Historic Houses of Bergen County, by B. G. Allbee. 
History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, N. J., by W. W. Clayton, 

1882. 
History of Bergen County, N. J., by J. M. Van Valen, 1900. 
History of the Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Church in 

America, 1902. 
History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey, by C. H. Winfield, 

1874. 
History of Ridgewood, by George Edgar Knowlton. 
Itinerary of General Washington, by W. S. Baker. 
Official Programs. — Independence Day Association of Ridgewood. 
Papers and Proceedings, The Bergen County Historical Society. 
Program. — 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the Village of 

Bergen, 1660. 
Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York. 
Ridgewood, New Jersey, by C. H. Dunn, 1898. 
Ridgewood, N. J., by Henry P. Phelps, 1912. 
RidgeAvood Guide, by Baxter and Breusch. 1896. 
Ridgewood of Yesteryear, by Judge Cornelius Doremus. 
Ridgewood 's History, by Harold A. Cheel. 
The Architectural Record. 

The Citizens' Book, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, 1916. 
The Improvement of Ridgewood. N. J. Report by Chas. M. Robin- 
son to Board of Trade, 1908. 
The Pageant of Ridgewood. N. J., June 19, 1915. 
The Ridgewood Herald. 
The Ridgewood News. 



If the results of our efforts furnish a source of information of value 
to those who seek it and also stimulate a devotion to our community's 
welfare, we will feel our mission has been fulfilled. 

HiSTORiCAiv Committee 

RU'iiARD T. \\ILS0X, Chairman 

Frank A. Baxter Rebecca W. Hawes Ira W. Travell 

-liilm II. Ward .IiKlge David D. Zabriskie Everett L. Zabriskie 

Publicity Committee 

H. ^V. Casler. Chainnan 

W. F. SriK^MiDT, Mcc-CIiainnan 

¥. A. Dimock B. G. Sniitli ('. 0. ^^[iles W. S. Moore 

C. H. Green D. R. Dusenborrv A. H. Gamble \V. W. Wilsev 

E. B. Lilly B. D. Hilton ' H. R. LeRoy 

Ridge wood, Bergen County, N. J., 
December 31, 1916. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FOREWORD V 

PREFACE vii 

CHAPTER I— GENERAL HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 1 

Indian Occupation 1 

Early Settlers 2 

Colonial Period 3 

Revolutionary War 4 

1782 to 1865 9 

Civil War 12 

Birth of Ridgewood 16 

CHAPTER II— GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND NATURAL FEATURES ... 18 

Name 18 

Location 18 

Appearance 18 

Soil 19 

Climatic Conditions 19 

Roads and Highways 19 

Plant Life ' 22 

Trees of Ridgewood 27 

Binl Life of Ridgewood 31 

CHAPTER III— CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION OF 

PUBLIC AFFAIRS 37 

Political Divisions 37 

Relation Between Village, County and State 38 

Ridgewood's Form of Government 41 

Township Committee 41 

Village Trustees 42 

Village Commissioners 44 

The Mayor 46 

Department of Public Affairs and Public Safety 46 

Police Department 46 

Fire Department 48 

Board of Health 52 

Shade Tree Commission 56 

Building Committee 58 

Department of Revenue and Finance 58 

Department of Public Improvements, Parks and Public Property .... 59 

Advisory Board 61 

xi 



CON TEN T S 



Administration of Justice 
Court of Common Pleas 
District Court 
Recorder's Court . 

Bar of Ridgewood 



PAGE 

62 
62 
63 
65 
65 



CHAPTER IV— EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 67 

Public Schools 67 

Private Schools 74 

Public Library 77 

CHAPTER V— RELIGIOUS INTERESTS 78 

Reformed Church of Paramus 78 

Christ Episcopal Church SO 

The Kenilworth Collegiate Presbyterian Church {Christian Reformed) ... 81 

First Reformed Church 81 

African M. E. Zion Church (Colored) 82 

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel 83 

Emmanuel Baptist Church 84 

Methodist P^piscopal Church 84 

Unitarian Society 85 

First Church of Christ, Scientist 86 

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 86 

Mount Bethel Baptist Church (Colored) 86 

West Side Collegiate Presbyterian Church 87 

Upper Ridgewood Religious Societies 88 

CHAPTER VI— BUSINESS INTERESTS 89 

Real Estate Development 89 

Mercantile and Industrial Enterprises 91 

Financial Institutions 96 

Medical and Dental Professions 97 

Publications 101 

Hotels, Inns, and Taverns 103 

Public Utilities 105 

Express Service 105 

Gas and Electric Systems 105 

Post Office 107 

Erie Railroad 108 

Rapid Transit 115 

Telephone and Telegraph Facilities 115 

Water Supply 118 

CHAPTER VII— RESIDENCES— PRESENT, EARLY, HISTORICAL— AND 

COMMUNITY CENTERS 121 

Homes of Ridgewood 121 

Early Dutch Homes 121 

Houses of Historical Interest 125 

Community Centers 126 

Pearsall's Grove 126 

Opera House 126 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Play House 128 

Municipal Building 128 

Halls and Club Rooms 128 

Speedway 131 

Ho-Ho-Kus Driving Club Park 131 

Bergen County Fair Association 131 

Community Christnuis Tree Festival 133 

CHAPTER VIII— CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS .... 134 

Clubs 134 

Patriotic 141 

Political 145 

Fraternal 147 

Musical 150 

Welfare 151 

School 155 

Anti-Liquor 156 

Medical 157 

For Young Men 158 

Commercial 161 

CHAPTER IX— BURIAL PLACES 162 

CHAPTER X— SUMMARIZED FACTS, STATISTICS AND CHRONOLOGY . 163 

APPENDIX : 

Semi-Centennial Association 170 

Officers 170 

Committees 170 

Members and Contributors 172 

The Semi-Centennial Songs of Ridgewood 173 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Map of Ridgewood and Vicinity Frontispiece 

The "OldElni" inHo-Ho-Kus 5 

The Development of West Ridgewood Avenue 17 

Pearsall's Grove — East Ridgewood Avenue — In the Early DO's. . 28 

Ruins of Fire, March 9, 1881 49 

High School — Beech Street 68 

The Reformed Church of Paramus 79 

Station and Plaza — Before Improvements 110 

Station and Plaza — After Improvements Ill 

The Old Aycrigg House 123 

The Town Club 132 

The Ridgewood Country Club 136 

Ridgewood Y. M. C. A 159 



Ridgewood: Past and Present 

CHAPTER I 
GENERAL HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 

IN an analysis of the history of a coniniunity it will be found that 
the greatest influences in determining its character have been the 
ideals and endeavors of its inhabitants. 

A narrative, therefore, of the history of Ridgewood is really one 
of the life of its people. While the development of particular phases 
of its life Avill be found elsewhere in this book, the general historical 
development of the community may well be divided into the following 
periods: 

INDIAN OCCUPATION 

Before the appearance of Europeans on this continent it is well 
known that nations of men speaking widely different languages, and 
commonly called Indians, existed here. The nation inhabiting the 
greater part of New Jersey was called the Delawares or Lenni Lenape, 
signifying, in their tongue, "The original people." 

Several sub-divisions of the Delawares have been made by writers. 
The tribes who occupied and roamed over the counties of Bergen and 
Passaic were those of the Unalachtgo or Turkey, and the Minsi or Wolf. 
A further division has also been made into sub-tribes known as Hacken- 
sacks, Acquakanonks, Pomptons, Tappans and Haverstraws, all sug- 
gestive of well-known districts. 

In 1643 the earliest white explorers into the region of the Hacken- 
sack and Passaic valleys found scattered villages, embraced under the 
name of Hackensacks, and varying in size from one to four or five 
houses, distributed over an area now bounded b}^ points located approxi- 
mately near Jersey City, Staten Island, Newark, Passaic, and the upper 
waters of the Hackensack, Passaic and Saddle Rivers. 

Investigators have found actual evidence of Indian occupation in 
many places along the streams and creeks of the Bergen County water- 
shed. The vicinity of Ridgewood, the banks of the Saddle River, and 
of the Ho-Ho-Kus and Sprout Brooks, have proven to be most promising 
localities for these researches. 

As a result of plowed fields and washouts, evidences have been 
traced of primitive settlements in many places along the Saddle River 
and its branches. One branch in particular, Sprout Brook, below 
Areola, has yielded a considerable quantity of material at three dif- 
ferent points on its banks, all within a radius of a mile. At one point 
on the farm of Mr. Koch, where tlie brook ci'osses the Paramus Road, 
a quantity of implements and pottery was taken from the former site 
of a small village. Further down on Sprout Brook, back of the Board 
farm, is the site of what was presumably a large palisaded grass house ; 
while one of the best preserved sites of occupation, in fact the most 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

typical, has been found on a high bank of tlie Saddle River, just below 
the point where it is crossed by the trolley. 

Within the present limits of Ridgewood and also covering an area 
with a radius of from ten to twelve miles fi'oni the village, during the 
past fifteen years explorations have been carried on by one of its 
citizens, INIr. J. R. Eschelman, that have brought to light a most valu- 
able collection (still in the possession of Mr. Eschelman) of approxi- 
mately two thousand pieces of Indian objects, consisting of arrow-heads, 
spear-lieads, axes, fisli spears, skin scrapers, knives, shaft polishers, hand 
hammers, a granite mortar, pestles, celts (chisels), hoes, winged objects, 
luna (half -moon) knives, and others unclassified. 

These relics have been found along the Indian trails, usually on 
the high side of a running stream or at some spring. In Ridgewood 
and its immediate vicinity the localities which have produced the best 
results are the shores of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, along the Mastin and 
Graydon fields and continuing above Harrison Avenue, opposite the 
home of E. L. Zabriskie; the grounds around the Board springs at 
Paramus Road and Duncker Hook (Dark Corner) ; and the fields be- 
yond the Valleau Cemetery and along the Diamond Brook at the sites 
of its various springs to its junction with the Passaic River, 

Formerly within the limits of Ridgewood Township, but now within 
the Borough of Glen Rock, a great block of stone stands on Rock Avenue 
near the Main Line Station of the Erie Railroad. Tradition says that 
this rock was a meeting place for the Indians, who called it Pamacka- 
puka. It w^as also known by the early settlers as tlie Big Rock at Small 
Lots. It Avas mentioned as a landmark in 1687, when a Patent was 
granted for 5,320 acres of land upon the second attempt to settle lands 
west of the Saddle River. 

In 1710 a tract of land containing 42,500 acres, called the "Ramapo 
Patent," including most of the northwestern portion of Bergen County, 
was surveyed, beginning at the "Big Rock, four or five miles north- 
west of Paterson." A copper pin, placed by the surveying party at 
this time on the highest point of tlie rock, is still in evidence. 

Since the early times, many of tlie land records of this vicinity 
refer to the stone as one of the points in determining the location of 
the property they cover. On August 26, 1912, as a result of the efforts 
of a number of citizens who appreciated its historical value, a deed 
was executed transferring the site of the rock, from the Soutli Ridge- 
wood Improvement Company and from Mr. and Mrs. John F. Walter, 
to the Borough of Glen Rock. Since that date the rock has been 
surrounded by a concrete walk and has l)een placed in a condition that 
guarantees its preservation for many yeai's to come. 

EARLY SETTLERS 

The first permanent Dutch settlement in New Jersey was called 
Bergen and was made during the year 1660 on the site now known 
as Bergen Square, within the present corporate limits of Jersey City. 
From that point a gradual colonization was extended into the more 
remote districts, mainly along the waterways, following the lines of 
least resistance. 



PAST AND PRESENT 



In 1662, Albert Zaborowski, a young man of twenty years, came 
from Poland in the Dutch sailing ship Deb Ves ("The Fox"). He 
married a Miss Van Der Linde and settled in the little trading post 
called Ackensack, where he became the possessor of a large landed 
interest. Of the children born to them five were sons. The oldest, 
Jacob, when a small boy, was stolen and carried off into the forests 
by the Indians. After a period of about fifteen years, Jacob was 
returned to his people by the Indians, Avho claimed they had taken 
him to teach him their language so that he could act as an interpreter 
between them and the settlers. As a result of this incident, Jacob's 
father obtained from the Indians a tract of land containing approxi- 
mately two thousand acres and known as the "New Paramus Patent" 
or "Wearimus Tract." 

The greater portion of the Paramus Patent lay in the northwestern 
part of the present Midland Township, while a section extended across 
the Saddle River into what is now Ridgewood Township. The tract 
extended in general from the Peter Board homestead on the south, 
about four miles north to the Stephen S. Berdan residence, and from 
the Saddle River on the west one and one-half miles east to the Sprout 
Brook. 

The name "Paramus" is said to be derived from the Indian "Pere- 
messing, " descriptive of the fact that the country abounded in wild 
turkey. The first white settlers called it "Peremesse," from which the 
transition was gradually made to the present form, Paramus. 

On this tract, in 1713, Jacob Zaborowski built a home located on 
the present Paramus Road, just north of what is now Blauvelt's Mill. 
This was the first house to be built in this section of the country. A 
stone which bears the name Zaborowski, and the year 1713, and which 
had been placed in its doorway, is now in the possession of Everett 
L. Zabriskie, of Ridgewood. 

Ridgewood is built upon the tract west of the Zaborowski lands 
and is part of a grant of five hundred acres made by I^ord Carteret 
to Samuel Kingsland in 1687. The land was sold to Peter Johnson 
for the sum of thirty- two pounds and ten shillings, and in 1698 became 
the property of Johann Van Emburgh, who built the first house in 
1700 in what is now Ridgewood proper. 

Other Dutch families, such as the Ackerman, Banta, Bogert, De Baun, 
Hopper, Marinus, Terhune, Van Der Beck, Van Dien, Van Houten, 
Westervelt and Zabriskie families, shortly afterwards settled in this 
locality, purchasing their land from the Van Emburgh estate. Many 
of these families arc still represented by their descendants, while the 
property of others has been disposed of to city purchasers in search 
of suburban homes. 

COLONIAL PERIOD 

During the Colonial period and for many years afterwards, the 
people devoted their lime almost entirely to agricultural pursuits. The 
farms each contained a large number of acres, and were scattered over 
so extensive an area that in consequence a slow development of the 
community resulted. 

3 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The homes generally were of stone with a southern or eastern ex- 
posure and with old-fashioned flower gardens in the front. 

Since the early settlers had come from Holland, they naturally for 
many years spoke their mother tongue, which in later years became 
known as "Jersey Dutch." 

Following the teachings of their early youth, the Dutch settlers 
were not long in establishing a house of worship. In 1725 they or- 
ganized the "Peremus Kirk," and in 1735 erected the first Church 
building on ground furnished by Peter Fauconier. Here for many years 
the services were conducted in the Dutch language. 

This church is now called the congregation of the Reformed Church 
of Paramus and is located in the northeastern part of Ridgewood. For 
many years, until the organization of other churches, the Paramus 
Church served a territory of about fifteen square miles, and was the 
central gathering place for the neighboring country for all purposes 
related to the community interests. 

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

The excitement which the tyranny of the British Government aroused 
in the colonies was felt throughout the present Bergen County, and 
on the 12th day of May, 1775, a Committee of Safety was organized 
with John Fell of Paramus as chairman. Party feeling ran high and 
many and bitter were the feuds among the people, although historians 
state that the Patriots were greatly superior in number to the Tories. 
The proximity of the Bergen district to New York made it important 
territory during the Revolutionary War. It was the gate to New Jersey 
and the West. Recognizing its importance, each party sought to fortify 
and to hold it in possession. 

AVhile no battles of importance were fought within the limits of the 
present county, its soil became a highway for the tread of marching 
armies, and its cultivated farms often attracted raiding and foraging 
parties of the enemy from New York City. Its people gave their sons 
to the cause, and provided supplies to the several American camps 
within their boundaries. 

Among the names of such camp-grounds that of "Paramus" takes 
a prominent place. Tradition states that it was just south of the 
Paramus Church. The poet Barlow, who wrote the old-fashioned poem 
"Hasty Pudding," was at one time a chaplain in the army and he 
wrote to friends one evening that he had been all day making the 
rounds of his camp and that it extended from Paramus four miles 
toward Haekensack. 

Tradition also states that the Commissary Department of the Ameri- 
can forces occupied about ten acres of land now the site of the Valleau 
Cemetery opposite the old church. The church edifice existing at that 
time was used by the American forces at various times as a prison and 
for other purposes, and was so greatly damaged that in 1785 it was 
necessary to make extensive repairs. The graveyard connected with 
the church contains the remains of many patriots and British soldiers 
who died while their armies were in this vicinity. 

Washington and his army were at Paramus several times. Many 




Courtesy C. H. L. Mitchell 

The "Old Elm" in Ho-Ho-Kus 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

important papers were sent from here, bnt all trace of Washington's 
headquarters seems to have been lost. It was here, after his great con- 
flict at Monmouth, that Washington established his headquarters from 
July 11 to July 15, 1778. Here, on Sunday, July 12, he wrote to the 
President of Congress in response to the vote of thanks which had 
been passed by Congress for the important victory he had gained at 
Monmouth. At this time, also, he received advice of the arrival of 
the French fleet under Count d'Estaing. 

He was at Paramus December r)th to 8th of the same year, and on 
Jiily 30 and October 7, 1780. 

The following references also indicate that some soldiers must have 
been stationed at Paranuis nearly all the time : 

General Clinton was informed of clothing for troops to be sent to 
Paramus, November 2, 1776 ; 

General Clinton was informed of return of Deputy Treasurer from 
Paramus, November 27, 1776 ; 

General Clinton was at Paramus December 17, 20 and 21, 1776, 
and January 7 and 13, 1777; 

General Heath was at Paramus, December 19, 1776 ; 

General Clinton sent scouting parties from Ramapo as far as Par- 
amus December 23 and 29, 1776 ; 

Colonel McClaughey's regiment w^as at Paramus, January 1, 1777; 

Stores at Paramus were under guard of eighty or one hundred men, 
May 9, 1777; 

Tea stored at Paramus was stolen, June 17, 1777 ; 

Washington's army was cantoned from P^ort Defiance to Paramus, 
August 9, 1779 ; 

Headquarters of Major Henr^' Lee were located here, August 22, 
1779, and September 4, 1779 ; 

Headquarters of Loi'd Stirling were located here, on October 8, 1780. 

On September 8, 1780, occurred the death of General Enoch Poor 
at Kinderhamack, a few miles east of Paramus. His body was brought 
to Paramus and on September 10th he was buried in the graveyard of 
the First Reformed Dutch Church in Hackensaek. 

For a long time a branch of W^ashington 's army was stationed in 
the Ramapo Valley along the section now the Havemeyer estate, and 
from there small detachments were thrown out across the country. 

Paramus, lying between this station and the Hudson River, was 
subject to the march and countermarches of troops belonging to both 
parties. 

At the time the American Army was retreating across New Jersey, 
and before it was half-way to Trenton, General Heath came down from 
his station in the highlands of the Hudson River and by the way of 
Paramus made an attack upon the British and Tories at Tappan, New 
York. 

It was on the route of the American Army as it moved from Newark 
to King's Ferry, July 5, 1778; while one division of the French, in 
the march of the allies to Yorktown, passed through Paramus to the 
north. 

Under the "Old Elm," located in Ho-Ho-Kus on Franklin Turn- 



PAST AND PRESENT 



pike (which starts near the Paramus Church), a granite marker was 
placed on May 30, 1914, by the Ramapo Valley Chapter, Daughters 
of the Revolution, as marking the route of General Washington and 
his troops from Fort Lee to Ramapaugh during the Revolutionary War, 
1776-1781. 

When Aaron Burr was appointed in 1777 a Lieutenant-Colonel in 
the American Army, he joined his regiment at Ramapo, where it was 
then stationed. At Paranuis resided Mrs. Provost, the widow of Colonel 
Provost, of the British Army. It is stated that while Burr commanded 
the American lines at Fort Washington, he frequently came over to 
Fort Lee, obtained a horse, and rode to visit the widow at Paramus, 
returning to his headquarters before daylight. IMrs. Provost afterwards 
became the wife of Burr and according to tradition was married to 
him in the old Paramus Church. 

It Avas while stationed here that Burr achieved his first military 
success. His regiment had encamped at Ramapo, in September, 1777, 
when intelligence was brought that the enemy was in Hackensack in 
great force and advancing into the country. Colonel Burr immediately 
marched with all eftective men, except a guard to take care of the 
camp, and arrived at Paramus, a distance of sixteen miles, before sun- 
set, where he found considerable bodies of militia in great alarm and 
disorder. 

Colonel Burr set some of the militia to repairing fences which had 
been destroyed by them in their endeavor to mobilize. Having taken 
measures to secure the troops from surprise and also to provide pro- 
tection for the corn fields, he marched immediately with about thirty 
of the most active of the regiment and a few militia to ascertain the 
position and numbers of the enemy. 

About ten o'clock at night, when within three miles of Hackensack, 
Burr, receiving word that he was within a mile of the picket guard 
of the enemy, led his men into a wood, ordered them to sleep until 
he awakened them, and went alone to discover the enemy's position. 
Returning about half an hour later, he awakened his men and ordered 
them to follow, forbidding any man to speak or fire under pain of 
death. Thus xu'oceeding, they came shortly within a few yards of the 
picket guard before their approach was suspected. Burr then gave the 
word and his men rushed upon the enemy before they had time to 
secure their arms. The greater part of the enemy were killed, a few 
taken prisoners, and some accoutrements brought off without the loss 
of a man. 

An ex])rcss was immediately sent to Paramus by Burr to order all 
the troops to move and to rally the country. His success had so 
encouraged tlie inliabitants tliat they turned out with great alacrity 
and put themselves under his command. The enemy, however, probably 
alarmed by these tlireatening appearances, retreated the next day, leav- 
ing behind them the greater part of the plunder which they had taken. 

One of the detachments thrown out by the patriot army stationed 
in the Ramapo Valley, was located at Hoppertown. now Ho-Ho-K^^s, 
and operated as a sub-base for smaller parties. The presence of this 
force at Ho-Ho-Kus, together with the larger encampments at Ramapo 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

and at Paramus, subjected the country to the depredations of the British 
and Tories in their numerous attempts to reach the American stations 
and to destroy the possible sources of supplies. Some of these sorties 
were as follows: 

About January 1, 1776, shortly after General Clinton had garri- 
soned his troops at Ramapo, the British, numbering between five and 
eight hundred troops, arrived at Hackensack. After imprisoning a 
number of the citizens in sympathy with the American cause, they 
marched on to Paramus, where they plundered some of the inhabitants 
of that neighborhood^ afterwards returning to Hackensack with citizens 
of Paranuis, whom they also confined in the Hackensack jail. 

On the night of December 27, 1776, several families at Paramus 
were plundered in a raid and several friends of the American cause 
were taken away as prisoners. 

During the night of April 21, 1779, the Tories under John Van 
De Roder took possession of the mill belonging to Jonathan Hopper, a 
captain of the militia. Hopper was born and raised at Hoppertown, 
but was then running a grist and saw mill at Wagaraw, on the present 
site of Alyea's Ice House, where Maple Avenue crosses the Passaic 
River to Paterson. Hopper's wife, hearing the noise, awoke her hus- 
band, and told him that some persons were in the mill. He arose, 
went to the door and, demanding to know who was there, was shot 
through the hand. The Tories then rushed into the house, seized him, 
and forced his wife to hold a light while they ran him through nineteen 
times with bayonets and killed him. 

On March 23, 1780, two parties, each consisting of about three 
hundred British and Hessian soldiers, landed, the one at Closter, several 
miles above Fort Lee, and the other at Weehawken, tlie former force 
to penetrate the country northward to Hoppertown and to attack the 
cantonment at that place, and the other to surprise the town of Hacken- 
sack and to push on and then attack the front of the American forces 
at Paramus. The Court House and several dwellings in Hackensack 
were burned and the entire route marked by devastation. At the Par- 
amus Church, where the two invading forces joined, they met the 
militia and citizens of the community, with the Continental troops sta- 
tioned there, and were driven back. They succeeded in taking with 
them, however, about fifty prisoners, mostly citizens and members of 
the militia, who were thrown in the Old Sugar House Prison, many 
never to return. 

Leaving New York City on April 15, 1780, a body of the British 
forces, consisting of two hundred horse and three hundred foot, landed 
in New Jersey at several points. Forming a junction near the English 
neighborhood, the whole detachment proceeded to the New Bridge on 
the Hackensack, where they arrived early in the morning of the 16th. 
After a skirmish with the American forces at that place, they continued 
their march to Paramus, coming in sight of the church a little after 
day-break. Finding the American forces had fallen back to Hopper- 
town. they proceeded until discovered by a picket at the bridge upon 
the Saddle River. Although the small American force under Major 
Byles was taken by surprise, it heroically attempted to defend its posi- 



PAST AND PRESENT 



tion. During the engagement, however, Major Byles was mortally 
wounded, and his lieutenant killed. Overwhelmed by numbers, the 
Americans were compelled to surrender. The American losses by death, 
wounded, and those taken prisoner, were one Major, two Captains, four 
Lieutenants, and about forty rank and file, while the British lost 
seven rank and file killed, two Sergeants, and twenty-nine rank and 
file wounded. 

After the encounter the British burned the house of Garret Hopper, 
who had bravely seconded the endeavors of the party to defend it, and 
who was l)adly wounded in the fray. They also burnt his mill and his 
brother's house. 

In commemoration of the events connected with the community's 
history during the War of the American Revolution, the New Jersey 
Society, of the Sons of the American Revolution, in conjunction with 
Paramus Chapter No. 6, on July 4, 1914, placed and dedicated the 
following bronze tablet upon the Paramus Church building: 

NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRV 

NEAR THIS HOUSE OF GOD 

ENCAMPED 

GENERAL WASHINGTON AND HIS 

ARMY IN 1778 

I\ GRATEFUL TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE PATRIOTS WHO 

SLEEP IN THE ADJACENT CHURCHYARD AND TO THE MEN 

AND WOMEN OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO ASSISTED 

SO VALIANTLY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 

THIS TABLET IS PLACED BY 

THE NEW JERSEY SOCIETY OF THE 

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

JULY 4th, 1914 

Paramus, as seen by an officer while in encampment here in 1778, 
is described as follows: 

"This town is chiefly inliabited by Dutch people. Their church and 
dwelling houses are built of rough stone, one story high. There is a 
peculiar neatness in the appearance of their dwellings, having an airy 
piazza supported by pillars in front, and their kitchens connected at 
the ends in the form of wings. The land is remarkably level and the 
soil fertile, and being generally advantageously cultivated, the people 
appear to enjoy ease and a happy competency. The furniture in their 
homes is of the most ordinary kind, such as might be supposed to 
accord with the fashion of the days of Queen Anne. They despise 
the superfluities of life and are ambitious to appear always neat and 
cleanly and never to complain of an empty purse." 

1782-1865 

After the Revolutionary War, the agreeable climate and the fertility 
of the soil attracted new settlers, who soon became established in the 
community. The growth of the community, however, was slow, owing 
to the fact that the people were widely scattered upon farms, and means 
of communication and of transportation were meagre and unsatisfactory. 

The earliest settlements were near the Paramus Churcli, but soon 

9 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

after the year 1800, a large area of country was developed, extending 
from the present site of Wortendykc to Lydeeker's Mills (now Midland 
Park). This region was named Newtown by Cornelius Wortendyke. 

Lydeeker's Mill, which was located a few rods below the present 
stone mill (occupied today by H. J. Wostbrock engaged in the manu- 
facture of flannels), was a flour mill to which the farmers for many 
miles around brought their grain. The stone mill was built by Abra- 
ham Van Riper about the year 1826, and Midland Park was then 
known as Van Riper 's j\Iill. Other mills in operation in this neighbor- 
hood were early known as Baldwin's j\Iill, the Quackenbush or Post 
.Mill, and the Turning Mill. 

The Stone Mill, about the year 1829, was used by Messrs. Van 
Winkle and Park for the manufacture of cotton yarn and warps. When 
they later sold out to Messrs. Munn and Whitehead, this mill and the 
other three were operated in the manufacture of cotton yarn, and the 
old Lydecker Mill was converted into rooms for making and sizing 
cotton warps. Ira Munn, who was related to Abraham Godwin of 
Revolutionary memory, in his honor about this time gave to this part 
of Newtown the name Godwinville— a name it retained for nearly 
forty-five years. 

Abraham Godwin, when a lad of from twelve to fifteen years of 
age, enlisted with his two brothers under Colonel Lewis Du Bois in 
the Fifth Regiment, New York State Line. He served from January 
1, 1777, to January, 1782, reaching the grade of Fife-Major. One 
brother, Henry, became Captain of the Seventh Company of the Fifth 
Regiment, while the other brother, David, served as a drummer in 
Henry's Company. 

After the war, and until his death on October 6, 1835, in the 
seventy-fourth year of his life, Abraham Godwin was the proprietor 
of the Passaic Hotel in Paterson. 

The settlement of Godwinville progressed and soon covered the terri- 
tory between Paramus and Newtown (Wortendyke) and included within 
its boundaries the present municipalities of Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and 
Midland Park. 

The centre of the present site of Ridgewood in the early forties had 
only one house, a small stone building, located south of the Play House 
on the summit of the rise just west of the Erie Railroad tracks. 
The house was owned by a man named McSweenc}^ and afterwards 
was occupied by a Danish family named Thompson. This old stone 
house finally did service as Ridgewood 's first lockup for lawbreakers. 

The next house on the west side of the tracks was on Godwin 
Avenue and was the home of David D. Ackerman, the grandfather 
of the present Ackerman Brothers, the grocers. 

Further west on GodAvin Avenue, on the rise just beyond the hollow 
at Garfield Place, stood a house then occupied by James Jenkins and 
now occupied by William Runk. 

Next came a house, used as a tavern bv James Blauvelt, situated 
on the present Martin property, at the head of Cherry Lane (Lincoln 
Avenue). On this same site Garrett I. Hopper afterwards had his 
home. On the northwest corner of Cherry Lane and Godwin Avenue 

10 



PAST AND PRESENT 



a blacksmith and wheelwright shop was erected and kept at one time 
by Mose Decker. 

In front of this shop a public whipping-post, not an nncommon 
object in that period, had been set up in a triangle formed by the 
turning of Cherry Lane in both directions into Godwin Avenue. 

At the junction of Ackerman and Doremus Avenues stood the stone 
portion of the house now occupied by Garrett G. Ackerman. 

East of the railroad tracks other houses of that period Avere as 
follows : 

On the site of the present Opera House stood an old stone farm- 
liouse, said to be owned by a family named Archabald. The barn was 
located on the cast side of Oak Street. Near it was the well, which 
still remains and which is now covered by a large flat stone. Few who 
pass the stone realize that it marks the site of the well whose water 
for many years slaked the thirst of many of the former inhabitants. 

The stone portion of the house, now the office of Dr. W. L. Vroom, 
on West Ridgcwood Avenue, was built and occupied by Peter J. Hopper, 
the father of Albert P. Hopper. 

The next house on Ridgewood Avenue was on the Weslc}^ Van Em- 
burgh place and was owned and occupied by Samuel Hopper. 

On the west side of JNIaple Avenue, on the property now owned by 
Samuel D. Gray don and near the gate to its entrance, stood an old 
stone house with its end to the road. This was originally owned by 
Peter Van Emburgh. It was demolished in 1864 and its stones were 
used for the facing of a fence Avliich has likewise disappeared. 

Where the Cameron property is now located stood a stone house 
which was remodeled in 1850 by its owner, a Mr. White, from Avhom 
Mr. Cameron purchased the property. 

At the corner of Maple Avenue and Cameron Lane stood the stone 
house owned and occupied by Cornelius Zabriskie, who carried on a 
])lacksmith business at the northeast corner of ]\Iaple and Harrison 
Avenues. His shop was built about 1800 and demolished in 1850. 

Just north of the Cornelius Zabriskie house and on the present site 
of the residence of E. L. Zabriskie, stood an old stone house Avith its 
end to the road. This house was standing in 1811 Avhen the property 
Avas purchased by Mr. Zabriskie 's great-grandfather. It Avas torn doAvn 
in 1850 and in tliat year the present Zabriskie house (recently remodeled) 
Avas built by A. J. Zabriskie. 

Near the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, a little south of RidgcAvood Avenue and 
on the right-of-Avay of the present trolley line, stood the home of Garret 
A. Hopper, a brother of Samuel. 

On the corner of RidgcAvood Avenue and Paramus Road stood a 
grist and saAvmill, built and operated by General AndrcAv II. Hopper, 
and destroyed by fire in 1860. A second mill Avas put up by a Mr. 
Jaroleman in 1861 and conducted as a cider, grist and saAvmill until 
it burned a fcAV years later. 

The residence of Henry Van Emburgh Avas located on the east side 
of Maple Avenue, northeast of the present Ridge Avood Commercial Com- 
pany's garage. It Avas afterAvards occupied by his son, George Van 

11 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Emburgh, and later purchased by Captain Samuel Dayton and used 
as his homestead, finally being destroyed by fire. 

The house located at the northwest junction of Prospect Street and 
Maple Avenue, and still occupied, was formerly the homestead of Har- 
manus Van Derbeek, and was built over one hundred years ago. An- 
other house dating baclv a hundred years is the old Van Dien House, 
situated on Grove Street near Pleasant Avenue. 

These houses, together with the old stone houses on the Paramus 
Road, referred to in that part of this book which describes the "Early 
Dutch Homes," comprised the nucleus of what is now Kidgcwood. At 
that time the centre of the Village was considered, geographically, as 
covering the twelve or fifteen acres of land included between Prospect 
Street on the East, a line about one hundred and fifty feet West of 
the Erie tracks on the West, Ridgewood Avenue on the North, and a 
line passing near the Broad Street Colored Church on the South. 

The opening about the year 1848 of the Paterson and Ramapo Rail- 
road, which connected with the Erie at Suft'ern, and with the Paterson 
and Hudson River Railroad at Paterson, gave a new impulse of growth 
to the little settlement, which at that time consisted practically of two 
or three intersecting roads and scattered farms. 

The nearest station on the new railroad was located at Ho-Ho-Kus. 
When the manufacturers at Godwinville, Avith their Paramus neighbors, 
asked for a station nearer by, they were refused, and it was only 
after a controversy of three years that they secured a station at the 
Godwinville Road Crossing (the present junction of Ridgewood, Frank- 
lin and Godwin Avenues). At first only freight trains stopped. It was 
two years more before the place was made a stop for passenger trains 
and a platform built. In 1853 several New Yorkers, settling in the 
village, started the erection of homes in the vicinity of the station. 
In 1859 a depot was erected by the residents, commutation to New York 
City having started a year earlier. 

THE CIVIL WAR 

The excitement in Bergen County, when the news of the attack upon 
Fort Sumter was received, was equal in intensity to that in any section 
of the country. War measures were spoken of and flags were displayed 
on many buildings. As in the Revolutionary times, the people were 
divided in sentiment, some feeling that the war was unrighteous and 
unnecessary. The people of this community, however, although diif'er- 
ing strenuously in political views on questions of governmental policy, 
were for the most part loyal to the Union. Their enthusiasm was suf^- 
cient to secure the erection of two spacious buildings for drilling military 
recruits. From these drill halls, representing as they did two opposing 
political parties, many young men went forth to do or die for their 
country. One of these buildings was called Union Hall, and was built 
by the Republicans. The first speech made within its walls was delivered 
by Horace Greeley. The building has for many years been a chapel 
connected with the Paramus Church. The other, demolished a few 
years ago, was a clapboard building located east of Ho-Ho-Kus on the 
property of Jolm Quackenbush. It was built by the Society for Pro- 

12 



PAST AND PRESENT 



mulgation of Education in Bergen County, and was used as the drill 
room of the National Guard of Ho-Ho-Kus, of which Abram Van Em- 
burgh was Captain. When this company enlisted in the Civil War, it 
became part of the Twenty-second Regiment, of which Captain Van 
Emburgh was made Lieutenant-Colonel on February 20, 1863. 

The morning after Fort Sumter was fired upon, Rev. E. T. Corwin, 
then pastor of the Paramus Church (he died in 1914 and is buried 
in Valleau Cemetery), fastened a flag to a pole and thrust it out of 
the belfry of the old church. When the congregation came to church 
the following Sunday they found "Old Glory" waving in the breeze 
above tliem. Some of the members objected, telling the pastor it was 
not right to have the flag there inasmuch as there was a division of 
opinion in the congregation. They insisted that the flag must come 
down. Two patriotic members, William Ranlett and John Jacob Za- 
briskie, approved of the pastor's action and declared that they would 
protect him in keeping the flag on the steeple. During the week a 
committee of the objectors called on Mr. Corwin and demanded the 
removal of the flag before the next Sabbath's service. Mr. Ranlett, on 
the other hand, immediately armed and equipped twenty-five men at 
his own expense. 

On the following Sunday morning, after the congregation had 
assembled on the church grounds, the committee approached the pastor 
and informed him that, as they had stated before, the flag must come 
down, and come down at once. As they started toward the belfry, 
the pastor halted them and said : "I told you our flag should wave 
above us until the war is over. I have twenty-five men who will help 
me protect it. The first man who touches that flag to tear it down 
will be shot!" 

In the midst of tlie excitement, the committee and their sympathizers 
gathered their families and left the scene, many never to return again 
to worship in the Paramus Church. 

The flag lasted half a year and was replaced by others until the 
close of the war. 

The majority of the citizens of this vicinity, responding to their 
country's call, were enlisted in Companies B and D of the Twenty- 
second Regiment, New Jersey Infantry, which was known as the Bergen 
Countv Regiinent. Before departing to join their regiment, they 
assembled in the Guard Room. Rev. Mr. Corwin, after preaching a 
farewo]] sermon, gave each man a copy of the Holy Bible to take 
with him. Tliese companies were originally made up of the following 
officers and men; and those of this vicinity as recalled at the present 
time are indicated by stars as follows: 

* Ridgewood, 
♦* Ho-Ho-Kus. 
••* Glen Rock. 

roi\rPANY B 

■"' *(';(])< a in Alunliam Van Emhiiroli 

*■'* First Tvicutfiiaiit Jacob Z. Van Blai'cnm 

**2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Z. Van Emhnrgh 

13 



RIDGE WOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 



**lst 
**2n(l 
**3rd 
*-^4th 

*5th 
**lst 
**2nd 

*3rd 

4th 

5th 

**6th 

**7th 

*8th 



Sergeant Andrew Van Enibingh 
Sergeant Charles Van Riper 
Sergeant Thomas Eckerson 
Sergeant James A. Osborne 
Sergeant Theodore V. Terhune 
Corporal Aaron Van Derbeck 
Corporal Abraham 11. Hopper 
Corporal Cornelius D. Ackerman 
Corporal Daniel Van Blarcom 
Corporal Stephen D. Bartholf 
Corporal Theodore Bamper 
Corporal John Acker 
Corporal Walter S. Terhune 



Abrams, Klias 
Abrams, Henry 
Ackerman, Peter 
Allen, Hejiry T. 
^ Banta, Thomas T. 
Bertholf. Peter 
Brower, Bolx-rt 1). 
Cap, George 
Conklin, John E. 
(ooley, Edward 
De Baun, Isaac V. B. 
Doremus, William 
Doty, Thomas E. 
Durling, John 
Edwards, James W. 
English, William 
Finch, Isaac P. 
Finch, John 
Finch, Joseph 
Harrop, John 
Hennion, Andrew 
Hennion, Garret G. 
Hopper, Albert G. 
Hopper, David 
Hopper, Garret U. 
Hopper, Henry L. 
Hopper, John A. 
Hopper, Joseph B. 



PRIVATES 

Howard, Cornelius 
Jenks, John G. 
Kent, Cornelius C. 
Lake, John 
Lenox, George 

* Lutkins, John H. 
Lutkins, Ricliard 

* Mabey. Frederick ]i. 
** Magroff, Martin 

•* Marinus, Christian 
Marsh, George W. 

* Masker, Lewis 
May, John J. 
Meeker, William D. 
Messenger, Philip 
Miller, William H. G. 

^* Myers, John J. 
■'* Myers, IVIartin J. 
■'■'' Osborne, William A. 
■• Perry, James 

Peterson, Barney 

Pulis, Jacob 
■ T'yan, Patrick 

Ryerson, Albert B. 

Schmide. Simon 

Stun. Daniel 

Stun. Isaac 
"' Q^rhune. Alexander 



Terhune, Andrew A. 
Terhune, Henry H. 
Terhune, James E. 
Terhune, Joseph F. 
Terwilliger, James H. 

■ Thompson, Ackerson 
Thompson, James, Jr. 

■ Thompson, Jolm H. 
Thompson, Jolin J 

■ Thompson, William H. 
Tinker, James 
Thurston, Anthony 
Trumper, Harman 
Turse, Jacob Y. 

Van Horn, William 
Van Riper, Peter 
Van Vorst. Henry 
Waldron, John Ij. 
Wanamaker, Josiah 
Ward, Peter 
West, Charles 
Wliitmore, James 
Whitmore. Wm. H. 
\Vinters, William 
Wykoff, Samuel B. 
Yeomans, Josiali 
Yeomans. INIyndcrt 
Yeomans. Samuel J. 



COMPANY D 

Ca[>taiii John C. AVestervelt 
First Lieutenant Walter H. Rumsey 
2nd Lieutenant Nicliolas (ollingnon 
1st Sergeant Abraham C. Herring 
2nd Sergeant Thomas Demarest 

*'3rd Sergeant John A. Marinus 
4th Sergeant Nicholas Ottignon 
5th Sergeant Jasper J. Westervelt 
Isti Corporal Isaac D. Bogert 
2nd Corporal Genest M. Ottignon 

*3rd Corporal James B. Westervelt 
4th Corporal Charles ~M. Westervelt 
5th ('or])oral James A. Ottignon 
(ith Corporal John F. Herring 
7th Corporal Henry Swin 
8th Corporal Henry Clay Humphrey 

14 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Ackerman, Abraham R. 
Ackerman, Garret 
Ackerman, George W. 
Ackerman, James P. 
Ackerman, James W. 
Ackerson. Jolin C. 
Baker, Georoe 
Banner, James 
Banta, Aaron V. 
Banta, Abraham P. 
Bartow, James 
Blauvelt, Abraham 
Blauvelt, Abraham D. 
Blauvelt, Abraham J. 
Blauvelt, John J. 
Blauvelt, Lucas C. 
Blauvelt, William 
Bogert, Abraham B. 
Bogert, Cornelius J. 
Bogert, James M. 
Bradley, Joseph A. 
Cole, Isaac 

Collingnon, Angus. M. 
Cook, Francis 
Cosker, Felix A. M. 
Crouter, Cornelius P. 
Crouter, James 
Demarest, Cornelius E. 



PRIVATES 

Demarest, John 
Demarest, John J. 
Demarest, Peter J. 
Dow, John 
Earl, Daniel 
Eckerson, David D., Jr. 
Eckerson, Edward T. 
Eckerson, Jacob B. 
Eckerson, John C. 
Everson, Benjamin 
Flood, Jajnes 
Gurnee, David 
Herring, Abraham P. 
Herring, Daniel 
Herring, John P. 
Hill, Thomas E. 
Hopper, Abraham A. 
Jersey, John J. 
Jones, Joseph E. 
Kent, Cornelius J. 
Kingsland, Theodore 
Kitchel, Isaac M. 
Lockwood, David 
Monroe, David 
Monroe, Stephen 
Mowerson, John Jacob 
Naugle, John D. 
Ottignon. John C. 



' * Perry, John H. 
'"• Post, John J. 

Post, Robert J. 

Pulis, Peter D. 

Raulet, C. Louis 

Riker, Abraham A. 

Rumsey, Owen I. 
■•■ Schilte, Marinus 

Smith, Daniel W. 

Stalter, Samuel 

Storms, Abraham C. 

Straut, Richard 

Terhune, Albert J., Jr. 

Townsend, .John 

Ulmer, Frederick 

Van Buskirk, Benj. 

Van Buskirk, Chas. E. 

Van Derlinder, .Tacob 
** Van Dien, Jolin 

Van Orden, William 

Van Riper, Fred. A. 
■■ Van Saun, Isaac 
* Wanamaker, .John IT. 

Waring, Peter P. 

Westervelt, Henry P. 
""" Williams, John 

Wood, Abraham 

Wortendvke, Abraham 



The foregoing is not a complete list of all enlistments from this 
vicinity. Others, whose records are not available at this time, were 
associated with regiments other than the 22nd New Jersey. One of our 
oldest citizens, Benjamin Eglin, served first in Company A, Twenty- 
second Regiment, and later in the Third New Jersey Cavalry. 

The Twenty-second Infantry Regiment was organized under the pro- 
visions of an Act of Congress, approved July 22, 1861, and mustered 
into the United States service for nine months, September 22, 1862. 
The regiment was made up chiefly from the bone and sinew of Bergen 
County's agricultural population, the total number of officers and men 
being nine hundred and thirty-nine. It left the State for Washington, 
D. C., on September 29, 1862. Upon arrival at its destination it was 
ordered into camp, called Camp Fornett, ten miles west of George- 
town, J). C, just south of what is now Cabin John's Bridge, having 
been assigned to a pi'ovisional brigade, Casey's Division, defences of 
Washington. It remained in tliis position until about the first of 
December, when it proceeded to Aquia Creek, Virginia, and was assigned 
to Provost Duty, guarding the railroad, transferring wounded prisoners, 
etc. 

In January, 1863, the regiment was assigned to the First Army Corps 
and joined the Army of the Potomac. It continued its organization 
and remained in active service until the expii-ation of its term, when 
it was ordered to return to New Jersey for its discharge and Avas 
mustered out of service at Trenton, June 25, 1863. 

The regiment was first attached to Casey's Division, defences of 

15 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Washington, then to Patrick's Brigade, Provost Guard, Army of the 
Potomac, and then to the Third Brigade, First Division, First Army- 
Corps. 

The only important engagement it took part in was the movement 
on Chaneellorsville, Virginia, May 2 and 3, 1863. 

THE BIRTH OP RIDGEWOOD 

The factors responsible for the establishment of the community of 
Ridgewood were the early Dutch, who settled in Paramus and its 
vicinity and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and the manufacturing 
interests that located in the hamlet of Godwinville (noAv Midland Park). 
Through the joint efforts of these people, a station, situated between the 
two settlements and serving both, was established on the railroad, which 
followed a route suggested by General George Clinton during the Revo- 
lutionary War as a natural thoroughfare. 

This railroad station became the center of activities for the territory 
it served. Business enterprises located near it, and people who moved 
here from New York City built homes within easy walking distance 
of it. 

The influence of the ideas of the new residential element, in con- 
junction with the precedents set by the practical and thrifty earlier 
settlers, laid the foundations for a new and a better community. Many 
improvements were made. New houses were erected and were provided 
with greater conveniences than the older buildings ; roads were bettered ; 
and with the passing of the year 1865 the general spirit of advance- 
ment of a fair-sized progressive village was plainly evident. 

It was at this point in the history of the community that its name 
was changed from Godwinville to Ridgewood. This was done in 1866, 
following several years of agitation on the part of the citizens. While 
the action at that time may have been considered as one of change of 
name only, it really had a greater significance in that it marked the 
birth of Ridgewood, a truly residential community with a character 
and an individuality of its own. 



IG 




Aijian Studio 

TIk- Ucvclopinent of West Ridgcwood Avenue, Looking from Waller Building to Slalion 
Upper— 187G Center— 1896 Lower— 1916 



CHAPTER II 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND NATURAL FEATURES 

NAME 

THE name now applied to the Village and Township — Ridge wood — 
was adopted during the year 1866 at the suggestion of Mrs. Cor- 
nelia Dayton, wife of William Dayton, because of its appropriateness — 
the Ridge of Woods on the Heights. Previous to this the settlement 
had been known as Godwinville, and had then included a portion of 
the tract called the Paramus Plains, Glen Rock, formerly known as 
Small Lots, and Midland Park, formerly called Lydecker's Mills. 

LOCATION 

Ridgewood is located on the Main Line of the Erie Railroad, five 
miles beyond Paterson and twenty-one miles from New York City. 

Situated in the western part of Bergen County, it is bounded on 
the north by Ho-Ho-Kus Township, on the south by the Borough of 
Glen Rock and by Saddle River Township, on the east by the Saddle 
River, and on the west by the Borough of Midland Park, by Franklin 
Township, and by Passaic County. 

APPEARANCE 

The Village lies in the foothills of the AVatchung and the Ramapo 
Moiintains, at an elevation at some points of three hundred feet. This 
environment is responsible for its remarkable diversity of scenery and 
the great natural beauty of its rolling surface and wooded heights, while 
the lack of factories and a universal plan of building homes on grounds 
of ample dimensions furtlier enhances its attractiveness. 

The land dips and curves — here only a gentle eminence, there a 
commanding, tree-crowned height overlooking almost the entire county, 
from whence on clear days are visible tlie spires of half a dozen cities, 
and at night the myriad lights of New York. 

Less tlian half a mile east of the railroad station the land for quite 
a distance is apparently almost level. Elsewhere there are shady dells 
and sheltered nooks. 

The clear-Avatered brook Ho-Ho-Kus meanders through the Village 
not far from its center, and, further on along its eastern boundary, 
there flows the larger stream which gives to this part of the country 
the name of Saddle River Valley. Each of these streams adds to the 
dominant and distinctive characteristic of Ridgewood — varied pictur- 
esqueness. 

The Village is built up on both sides of the tracks of the main 
line of the Erie Railroad. The principal business section, however, is 
on the east side within two blocks of the railroad station, and the 
majority of the churches and of the schools are also on that side. This 
inequality in the distrilmtion of activities is due to an earlier and 
greater development of real estate on the one side of the Village. Dur- 

18 



PAST AND PRESENT 



ing the past two years, however, the growth has been quite equally 
divided betAveen the cast and west sides. 

SOIL 

The soil of Ridgewood and of its vicinity is in general porous, and 
has always been known as exceedingly fertile and susceptible of a high 
degree of cultivation. In some localities clay of a heavy nature pre- 
dominates, while in others sand abounds. Very little gravel is found. 

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 

One of the greatest factors contributing to Ridgewood's develop- 
ment is the sahiljrity of its climate. The breezes which sweep over the 
Paramus Highlands and across the Paramus Plains, as tAvo sections of 
the community were called of old, have long been known to be dry and 
bracing and free from the harshness and humidity of salt air common 
to localities near the sea-coast. Also during the summer months the 
breezes from the Passaic Valley, on the south and southwest of the 
Village, are particularly cool and refreshing. 

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS 

The roads passing through Ridgewood, before its existence as a 
community, formed a part of the main arteries of travel in this section 
of the country. 

As they hold the same relative positions at the present time, it is 
felt that a better understanding of their situation and development will 
l)e ol)tainod if they are considered and described not purely from a 
local standpoint l)ut i-ather in connection Avith the routes of Avhich they 
were or are a part, with mention of such subsequent changes as resulted 
when these highways passed through the confines of the locality. 

Hohoken-GosJien Stage Boufe 

Starting at Areola, running parallel Avith the eastern boundary line 
of RidgcAA'ood ToAvnship, curving to the Avest as it enters the north- 
eastern portion of RidgeAvood, and ending at the Paramus Church, the 
Paramus Road formed a part of the old stage route betAveen Hoboken 
and Goshen. 

Upon leaving the Paramus Church, the driver had the choice either 
of continuing along the West Saddle River Road and then turning 
Avest. going over tlie old road along the race-track to Ho-Ho-Kus, or 
of passing through Harrison Avenue, formerly called Libby Lane, to 
Manle Avenue and thence to Ho-Ho-Kus. 

The stage route Avas marked by broAvn stones set a mile apart, each 
one giving the number of miles from Hoboken. One of these stones 
formerly indicating the regular route noAV stands in front of the resi- 
dence of George Berdan on Harrison Avenue ; Avhile tAvo are still stand- 
ing on Paramus Road, one on the east side of the road near the barn 
on the farm of Aletta Van Dien, occupied by Mr. Paxton, and the 
other on the same side of the road in front of the Pell farm, now 
owned by Mr, Charles S. Chapman. 

19 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Pompton-Hohoken Highway 

Starting at Pompton and entering Ridgewood on the west side, this 
highway made a detour to the north and then to the east across the 
township until it intersected the Paranms Road, down which the route 
to Hoboken was continued. This road was associated with historic events 
in the days of the Revolution. 

This thoroughfare is also referred to as the road from Newtown 
(Wortendyke) to Paramus, the road from Godwinville to Paramus, and 
the road from Lydecker's Mills to Paramus, and was commonly called 
Godwinville Road. At the present time, within the limits of Ridge- 
wood, it is known as Godwin Avenue and West and East Ridgewood 
Avenues. 

Hoppertown-Paferson Turnpike 

In the early days the traveler was forced to take a roundabout 
way to reach Paterson, using what was known as the Hoppertown- 
Paterson Turnpike. 

Leaving Hoppertown (now Ho-Ho-Kus), the route followed the high- 
way now known as Maple Avenue as far as the present Ridgewood 
Avenue. Continuing along West Ridgewood and Godwin Avenues to 
the beginning of Lincoln Avenue (then called Cherry Lane, from the 
fact that both sides of the road was lined with wild cherry trees), it 
followed this road in a southerly course through the southwestern 
portion of the Village to its intersection with the old Wagaraw Road 
at the Passaic River, where Moffat's Bridge is now located. It then 
turned westward to Moi-i-ow's Mills (now Hawthorne Mills) at the 
head of the Goffle Road and thence through North Main Street into 
Paterson. 

During the forties, efforts were made to shorten the distance nearly 
one-half by straightening the road from Hoppertown and by carrying it 
across Ridgewood Avenue, where the Rouclere House now stands, to 
follow the present general course of Maple Avenue into Paterson. 

The petitioners for this improvement were successful, however, in 
establishing only the present lines of the road as far as the Harris- 
town Road below Ferndale. The route then followed the road to Lin- 
coln Avenue just south of the Diamond Bridge, continuing as before 
by way of Morrow's Mills into Paterson. In the summertime and at 
low water, it was possible for a traveler to shorten his route somewhat 
by fording the Passaic River at the foot of Lincoln Avenue, a little 
east of Moffat's Bridge. 

The present route was finally established after repeated efforts made 
during the fifties, and the Wagaraw Bridge was constructed over the 
Passaic River at Alyea's Mill, connecting the road Avith River Street 
in Paterson. 

The latest improvement to this tlioroughfare, consisting of an 
amasite pavement from curb to curb, twenty-five feet wide, from the 
southern boundary line of the Yillasre at Glen Rock to Meadow Brook 
Avenue, and twenty-eight feet wide from that point north to the 
Ho-Ho-Kus lino, Avas completed dui'ing inLI as the result of continued 
efforts on the part of former Freeholder Isaac E. Hutton, former Com- 

20 



PAST AND PRESENT 



missioner Frederick Pfeiffer, County Engineer Ralph D. Earle, Jr., and 
the present Commissioner, Dr. J. B. Hopper. The efforts of these 
officials were ably seconded by the property owners along its route, 
who with few exceptions agreed to pay the extra cost of widening the 
road from twenty-five to twenty-eiglit feet where necessary and to place 
curbs where the properties were witliout them. 

Go/Jle Road 

The Goffle Road, separating the southwestern part of Ridgewood 
from Franklin Township, takes its name from the Dutch "de Gaffel, " 
which in that language meant "The Fork" and refers to the fork 
where the ancient Indian trails separated about two miles northeast 
of Paterson, one continuing along the present Goffle Road and the other 
following the route of the old Wagaraw Road. 

Originally this road followed a course starting at the termination 
of North Main Street, Paterson, and continuing along the northern 
bank of the Passaic River until its intersection with the old Wagaraw 
Road. Here it turned, following a course through the northern por- 
tion of Manchester Township, Passaic County, until it reached the 
place called Van Winkle. There it intersected a road leading to Pomp- 
ton. At the present time it continues from that point, following a 
course parallel to the Goffle Brook until it reaches its termination at 
Godwin Avenue in Midland Park, just outside the boundary of Ridge- 
wood. 

Godwinville-Hackensack Road 

Starting on the south side of Godwin Avenue, this liighway in 
Ridgewood is now known as Ackerman Avenue. Following along the 
west side of the Saddle River, in the earlier days, it gave the residents 
on that side of the river a direct route to Haekensack. 

Later a bridge was constructed over the Saddle River at Areola 
(formerly Red Mills), thereby enabling the traveler, by crossing the 
river at that point, to continue to Haekensack along the route of the 
old Hoboken-Goshen Stage Line. 

Franklin Turnpike 

Established during the sixties and starting near the Paramus 
Church, this road continues towards Ho-Ho-Kus until it meets and 
joins the old road running along the race-track into Ho-Ho-Kus. 
After passing througli that village it follows nearly the course of the 
P^rie Railroad tlirougli Allendale, east of Ramsey and Mahwah, to 
Suffern. 

Small Lois Road 

Prospect Street, south of Maple Avenue, was formerly known as 
the highway leading to Small Lots (Glen Rock). 

Rock Road 

Forming a part of its southern boundary near the grounds of the 
Ridgewood Country Club, this road is one of the oldest in the vicinity 
of the Village of Ridgewood. 

21 



niDGEWOOT), BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Starting at the Goffle Road and extending through the Borough of 
Glen Rock, it passes the great rock of stone located in that municipality, 
from which it derives its name, and joins the old Godwinville-Hacken- 
sack Road (Ackerman Avenue). It was first used as a connecting link 
by the Indians in their trails leading from the Ponds (Pompton) and 
the Ramapos to Areola and Hackensack. 

PLANT LIFE 

The variety of wild flowers and plant life which abound in Ridge- 
wood and its vicinity is remarkable. Yet, strange to say, few are 
sufficiently interested to look up the names of the wild flowers and 
to note their wonderful adaptability to their surroundings. To them 
the gate of nature's garden is closed. They miss the fascination of 
color and grace of form, the schemes of this plant for cross fertiliza- 
tion purposes or the indolence of that and its consequent downward 
trend in the scale of plant life. 

Who would think of looking for wild flowers in the middle of 
February? Yet within two miles of the station may be found the 
spathe of the Skunk Cabbage ex(|uisitely blotched with shades of crim- 
son and purple on a cream ground, possibly pushing its way up through 
the snow. Within quite recent yeai's on the embankment near the sta- 
tion the delicate, modest Hepatica might be found in early spring, in 
shades running from deep blue to almost white; and the Wild Gera- 
nium, Claytonia or Spring Beauty, Adder's Tongue, and the quaint little 
Dutchman's Breeches abound in our woods and by the wayside. Those 
who know where to look may yet find the wax-like flower of the Trailing 
Arbutus with its exotic perfume, or may explore the rocky and wooded 
haunts where the rather rare orchid known as Lady 's Slipper luxuriates, 
raising its head of exquisite form and shaded coloring to the wonder- 
ing eyes of the finder. 

There are localities, too, witliin easy Avalking distance, where the 
burnished gold of the Marsh Marigold in its favorite swamp makes 
such places in the early May morning look auriferous, as if the sun 
were draAving the precious metal already refined from the recesses of 
the earth. A little later in the month the eye is delighted with a 
profusion of Wild Azalea in shades of vivid pink, and near it is found 
the Mountain Laurel, its cup-like blossoms more delicately tinted than 
Dresden China, tlie stamen caught back until by a quick release the 
pollen is scattered for fertilization. 

In the low-lying sedgy ground of many a meadow, the flowering 
grasses make a carpet, Avith golden buttercups and the gracefully-sway- 
ing Purple Iris marking a pattern. One need not wait long in such 
a place to see the flash of the red-winged blackbird or to hear his 
familiar call. Later will be found on similar ground Blue Lobelia, 
Tall Meadow Rue, Grass of Parnassus, the carnivorous Pitcher Plant, 
and Indian Paint Brush, the vermillion paint still on it. 

The thrill in finding the Yellow Orchid or its sister, the Purple 
Orchid, is quite worth the patient hunt for them. That orange mass 
of tangle in the bush is Angel's Hair or Dodder, a parasite deprived 
by nature of its leaves as punishment for its degenerate mode of life. 

22 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Among other parasites frequenting this section may be mentioned 
Broom-rape, the charming Pink Gerardia, which has not gone far on 
the downward path, and Indian Pipe or Ghost-flower, a hardened sinner, 
colorless yet beautiful in its degradation. 

The exquisite Jewel-weed, its orange flowers suspended horizontally, 
haunts a running brook, and in the nearby marsh may be found the 
beautiful spikes of Pickerel-weed. The very showy orange Butterfly- 
weed and its more common cousin, purple Milkweed, are by no means 
strangers, the pods of the latter with their silky seed-tufts making a 
charming house decoration in the Fall. As summer wanes, come the 
purple Iron- weed, the magenta Joe-Pye weed towering six to eight 
feet high, the Goldenrods in endless variety, and, one of the last yet 
one of the most beautiful, the Fringed Gentian, Avith its flowers — 

"Blue— bill*? — as if tliat sky let fall 
A flower from its cerulean wall." 

It is not possible in a book of this nature to describe even super- 
ficially the beauty of form and color, the modest grace or brazen 
effrontery and, above all, the ingenuity displayed in self-perpetuation 
of our neighbors, the Avild flowers. It is hoped that the appended list 
will perhai)s give the incentive to anyone enthusiastic enough to take 
a tramp at the right seasons and in the right direction to cultivate the 
friendship of these charming fellow-residents. 

Ferns of many beautiful varieties are to be found in great abun- 
dance in the woods or damp places, while for those interested in Fungi, 
Ridgewood provides a fruitful field for research. 

There is another phase of plant life to which Ridgewood is admir- 
ably adapted both by the nature of its soil and by its location ; namely, 
horticulture. The wave of enthusiasm for garden work which has in 
recent years spread over the country has left its deep impression here. 
The climatic conditions, save in an exceptional year, are favorable for 
even semi-hardy plants. From early spring when Pansies, Tulips, 
Hyacinths and Narcissuses brighten our gardens with splashes of color, 
until the autumn frosts cut down the Dahlias, Cosmos, and Chrysan- 
themums, we have a long succession of sesthetie beauty most pleasing 
to the eye. Of utilitarian value are the early lettuce, peas and beans; 
indeed many of our gardens yield enough vegetables for the household 
during the whole summer, to say nothing of gifts to neighbors or stores 
laid by for the winter. There is no corn so sweet as that which you 
have planted and hoed yourself. The Garden Club is demonstrating 
this fact to a remarkable degree, both in theory and in practice. Men 
need only to be told that the early morning when the air is fresh 
and sweet and full of the songs of birds is the time to rest one's 
nerves and exercise one's muscles in the garden, when many of them 
try it out and become converted. The semi-annual exhibitions given 
bj^ the Club increasingly demonstrate the degree of success which an 
amateur may attain, even though he spends his days in the city. 

Our soil is well suited for both Roses and Dahlias and produces 
some wonderful flowers in these two varieties. ]\Iore beautiful flowers 
are seldom seen than the Roses and Dahlias at the spring and fall 

23 



U I D a E W 01), BERGEN COUN T Y , N E W J E R S E Y 



exhibitions of the Ridgewood Garden Club. These exhibitions provide 
the requisite incentive for producing the best that can be grown and 
afford opportunity for the interchange by members of ideas and infor- 
mation of much value, as evidenced by the improvement in numerous 
gardens in the village. The Garden Club does not forget the sick. 
Regularly during the season a committee appointed for the purpose 
collects and distributes to the nearby hospitals such flowers as are 
obtainable. It has further adopted the plan of offering a prize for 
children at its Flower Show for the best bouquet of wild flowers, and 
has thereby created considerable interest among the young people. 

To enumerate the flowers, shrubs and vegetables which can be grown 
here would mean almost a recapitulation of any complete catalog. It 
will be of interest to many, however, to know what wild flowers may 
be found in the vicinity. The following list, not fully complete, is 
accordingly given: 



Agrimony (Agrimonia liirsuta) 
Alum Root (Heuchera Americana) 
American Brooklime (Veronica Ameri- 
cana) 
American Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegi- 

oides) 
Anemone, Rue (Syndesmon tlialictroides) 
Anemone, Wood {Anemone quinquefolia ) 
Arbutus, Trailing (Epig^a Repens) 
Arrow-arum, Green (Peltandra Vir- 

ginica) 
Arrow-liead (Sagittaria latifolia) 
Arrow Wood (Viburnum pubescens) 
Azalea, Pink (Azalea nudiflora) 
Azalea, White Swamp (Azalea viscosa) 
Aster, Blue (Aster cordifolius) 
Aster, Pointed-leaved (Aster acuminatus) 
Aster, Purple (Aster patens) 
Aster, Stiti'-leaved (lonactis Vinarii- 

folius ) 
Aster, White Heath (Aster ericoides) 
Aster, Wood ( Aster divaricatus ) 
Bancberry, White (Actsea Alba) 
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) 
Basil (Calamintha Clinopodium) 
Beard-tongue, Foxglove (Pentstemon 

digitalis) 
Beechdrops, False (Hypopitis Hypopitis) 
Bellwort (Uvnlaria Perfoliata) 
Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) 
Blackberry, High (Rubus villosus) 
Blackberry, Running Swamp (Rubus 

hispidus) 
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) 
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) 
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) 
Blueberry (Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum) 
Blueberry, Swamp (Vaccinixnn corym- 

bosum) 
Bluets (Houstonia coerulea) 
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angusti- 
folium) 



Blue Linaria (Linaria Canadensis) 
Blueweed (Echiiun vulgare) 
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) 
Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) 
Broom-rape (Ihalesia uniflora) 
Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) 
Buckwheat, Climbing False (Polygonum 

scandens) 
Burdock (Arctium minus) 
Bur-marigold (Bidens frondosa) 
Bur-marigold, larger (Bidens l«?vis) 
Buttercups in varietj' (Ranunculus) 
Butterfly -weed (Asclepias tuberosa) 
Button-bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) 
Campion, Bladder (Silene vulgaris) 
Campion, Starry (Silene Stellata) 
Cancer-root, one-flowered (Aphyllon Uni- 

florum ) 
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 
Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea) 
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) 
Celandine (Chelidoniimi majus) 
Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) 
Chicory (Chicorium Intybus) 
Chickweed (Alsine media) 
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) 
Choke-cherry (Prunus Virginiana ) 
Cinquefoil, Common (Potentilla. Cana- 
densis) 
Cinquefoil, Shrubby (Potentilla fructi- 

cosa) 
Citronella (Collinsonia Canadensis) 
Cleavei's (Galium Aparine) 
Clematis (Clematis Virginiana) 
Clover, Rabbit's-foot (Trifolium arvense) 
Clover, Red (Trifolium pratense) 
Clover, White (Trifolium repens) 
Clover, White Sweet (Melilotus alba) 
Clover, Yellow (Trifolium agrarium) 
Clover, Yellow Sweet (Melilotus offici- 
nalis) 
Cockspur Thorn (CratiBgus Crus-Galli) 
Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) 



24 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Coral-root (Corallorhiza multiflora) 
Corn-cockle ( Agrostemma Githago) 
Cranberry (Oxycoccus Macrocarpus) 
Crinkleroot (Dentaria Diphylla) 
Culvers Root (Leptandra Virginica) 
Daisy, Field (Clirysniitlienuim lAnican- 

themum ) 
Daisy Fleabanc {Erigoron annus) 
Dandelion (Taraxacum Taraxacum) 
Day-Flower (Commclina ^'irginica) 
Deer-grass (Rliexia Virginica) 
Dewberry (Rnbus Canatlensis) 
Dodder (Cnscuta Gronovii ) 
Dogbane, Spreading ( Apocynum andro- 

saemi folium) 
Dogwood, FloAA'ering (Cornus florida) 
Dogwood, Panicled (Cornus candidis- 

sinia) 
Dogwood, Red Osier (Cornus Stolonifera) 
Dutchman's Breeches (Bicuculla Cucul- 

laria) 
Elder (Sambucus Canadensis) 
Evening Primrose (Onagrabiennis) 
Everlasting (Anaplialis margaritacea) 
Fire-weed (Chaniijenerion angustifoiium ) 
Flag (Iris versicolor) 
Flax (liinum usitatissimuin ) 
Forget-me-not (MyosoUs ]);iliistris) 
Foxglove, Smooth False (Dasystoma 

Ihiva) 
Frost-weed (Heliantliemum Canadense) 
Gentian, Closed (Gentiana Andrewsii) 
Gentian, Fringed (Gentiana crinita) 
Geranium, Wild (Geranium maculatum) 
Gerardia (Gerardia purpurea) 
(Jill-over-the-Ground (Glecoma hedera- 

cea) 
Ginger, Wild (Asarum Canadense) 
Ginseng. Dwarf (Panax trifolium) 
Golden Corydalis (Capnoides aureuni) 
Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus) 
Golden-rod in variety' (Solidago) 
Grape, Fox (Vitis Labrusca.) 
Grape, Frost or Cliicken (Vitis Cordi- 

folia) 
Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia Caro- 

liniana) 
Great Rurnet fPotelium Canadense) 
Ground Clierry (Physalis Virginiana) 
Grdund-nut (Apios Apios) 
Hawkweed (Ilieracium aurantiacum) 
Hellebore, American White (Veratnim 

viride) 
Hepatica (Hepatica Hepatica) 
Honeysuckle, Bush (Diervilla Diervilla) 
Honeysuckle, Common (Lonicera Capri- 
folium ) 
Honeysuckle, Trumpet (Lonicera semper- 

virens) 
Huckleberry, Black (Gaylussacia Resi- 

nosa) 
Huckleberry, Squaw (Vaccinium stami- 

neum ) 



Indian Cucumber-root (Medeola Virgi- 
niana) 
Indian-Paintbrush (Castilleja Coccinea ) 
Indian-Pipe (Monotropa uuiflora) 
Indian-Tobacco (LoI>elia inflata) 
Indigo, Wild (Baptisia tinctoria) 
Iron-weed ( Vernonia Noveboracensis) 
Ivy, Poison (Rhus radicans) 
Jack-in-the-Pulpit ( Arisa>ma triphylluni) 
Jewel-weed (Impatiens biflora) 
Joe-Pye ^\'eed (Eupatorium purpureum) 
Knotweed (Polygonum Pennsylvanicum) 
Ladies' Tresses (Gyrostachys cernua) 
Lady's Slipper (Cypripediuni acaule) 
Laurel, Mountain (Kalmia latifolia) 
Laurel, Sheep (Kalmia angustifolia) 
Lettuce, Wild (Lactuca Canadensis) 
Lily-of-tne-Valley, False (Unifolium 

Canadense) 
Lily, orange (Hemerocallis fulva) 
Lily, Turk's Cap (Lilium superbum) 
Lily, Trout (Erythronium Americanum ) 
Lily, White Pond (Castalia odorata) 
Lily, Wood (Lilium Philadelphicum) 
Lily, Yellow (Lilium Canadense) 
Lily, Yellow Pond (Nymphoea advena) 
Lion's-foot (Nabalus albus) 
Live-forever ( Seduni Telephium) 
Lobelia, (ireat (Lobelia syphilitica) 
Loosestrife, Whorled (Lysimachia quadri- 

folia) 
Loosestrife, Yellow (Lysimachia terre- 

stris) 
Lupine. Wild (Lupinus perennis) 
^larsh-Marigold (Caltha palustris) 
May Apple (Podopliyllum peltatiun) 
^leadow-rue. Tall (Thalictrum poly- 

ganum ) 
^leadow-sweet (Spiraea salicifolia) 
Milkweed, in variety (Asclepias) 
Milkwort, Common (Polygala virides- 

cens ) 
Milkwort, Fringed (Polygala paucifolia) 
Milkwort, Racemed (Polygala poly gama ) 
]Mint (IMentha Canadensis) 
Miliewort, False ('i iarella cordifolia) 
Monkey-flower (^linuilus lingens) 
Moonseed (Menispermum Canadense) 
Morning-Glory, White (Iporaoea pan- 
el ur a ta) 
Morning- Glory, Wild (Convolvulus 

sepium) 
^lotherwort (Leonurus Cardiaca) 
Mullein, Giant (Verbascum Thapsus) 
Mullein. Moth (Verbascum Blattaria) 
Mustard (Brassica nigra) 
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus Americanus) 
Niglitshade (Solanum Dulcamara) 
Nimble-Kate (Sicyos angulatus) 
Orange Grass (Hypericum nudicaule) 
Orchis, Purple (Hal)enaria peramoena) 
Orchis. Purple Fringed (Habenaria psy- 
codes ) 



26 



RiDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 



Orchis, Yellow (Habenaria ciliaris) 
Parsnip, Wild (Pastinaca sativa) 
Partridge Vine (Mitchclla repens) 
Peanut, Hog (Falcata comosa) 
Pepperbush, Sweet (Clethra alnifolia) 
Peppermint (Mentlia ])iperita) 
Pickerel-weed (Pontederia eordata) 
Pink, Deptford (Diantluis Aiineria) 
Pink, Grass (Limodoruni tuberosum) 
Pink, Wild (Silene C'aroliniana) 
Pipsissewa (Chimapbila iimbellata) 
Pipsissewa, Spottecl (Chimaphila macu- 

lata) 
Pitcher-plant (Sarracenea purpurea) 
Pogonia, Rose (Pogonia ophioglossoides) 
Pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra) 
Prickly Pear (Opuntia Opuntia) 
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus Carota) 
Raspberry, Purple Flowering (Rubus 

odoratus) 
Rattle-box (Crotalaria Sagittalis) 
Rattlesnake Plantain (Peramium repens) 
Riiodora (Rhodora Canadensis) 
Robin's Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus) 
Rose, Svvam]! (Rosa Carolina) 
Rose, Wild ( Kosa huinilis) 
Saint doim's-wort ( ITypericum jierfora- 

tuni) 
Sarsaparilla, Wild (Aralia nudicaulis) 
Saxifrage (Saxifraga Virginiensis) 
Saxifi-age Swamp (Saxifraga Pennsyl- 

vanica) 
Self -Heal (Prunella vulgaris) 
Sensitive Pea (Cassia nictitans) 
Service-Berry (Amelanchier Canadensis) 
Siiad-Busli (Amelanchier Botryapium) 
Shin-leaf (Pyrola elliptica) 
Silver-rod (Solidago bicolor) 
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) 
Skunk Cabbage (Spathyema foetida) 
Snakeroot, \Vhite (Eupatorium agera- 

toides) 
Sneezewood (Helenium autumnale) 
Solomon's Seal, False (Vagnera race- 

mosa ) 
Solomon's Seal, True (Polygonatum 

biflorum) 
Spearmint (Mentha Spicata) 
Speedwell, Common (Veronica oflTicinalis) 
Speedwell, Thyme-leaved (Veronica ser- 

pylli folia) 
Spice-Bush (Benzoin Benzoin) 
Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) 
Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginica) 
Spurge (Euphorbia corollata) 
Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) 
Strawberry, Wild (Fragaria Virginiana) 
Strawberry, Barren (Waldsteinia fra- 

garioides) 
Sumach, Poison (Rhus Vernix) 
Sumach, Staghorn (Rhus hirta) 
Sundew ( Drosera ) 



Sundew, Round-leaved (Drosera rotundi- 

folia) 
Sundrops (KneifRa fructicosa) 
Sunflower, Wild (Helianthus giganteus) 
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) 
Tear-thumb, Arrow-leaved (Polygonum 

sagittatiun) 
Tear-thumb, Halberd-loaved (Polygonum 

Arifolium) 
Thistles in variety (Carduus) 
Thorn Apple (Datura Stramonium) 
Tick-trefoil (Meibomia Canadensis) 
Toad-flax (Linaria Linaria) 
Trillium, Nodding (Trillium cernuum) 
Trumpet-flower (Tecoma radicans) 
Turtle-head (Chelone glabra) 
Venus' Looking-glass (Legouzia per- 

foliata) 
Vervain, Blue (Verbena hastata) 
Vervain, European (Verbena officinalis) 
Vetch, Purple (Vieia Cracca) 
Viburnum, Maple-leaved (Viburnum Ace- 

rifolium) 
Violet, Blue (Vista) 
Violet, White (Viola Blanda) 
Violet, White-Lance Leafed (Viola Lan- 

ceolnta) 
Violet, Yellow (Viola Pupesceus) 
N'irginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quin- 

quefolia) 
Virgin's Bower (Atragene Americana) 
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia Virgini- 
ana) 
Watercress (Cardamine bulbosa) 
Water Plantain (Alisma Plantago- 

aquatica) 
\Mnterberry (Ilex verticillata) 
Wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia) 
Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) 
Wood Betony (Pedicularis Canadensis) 
Wood-sorrel, Yellow (Oxalis stricta) 
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 
Yellow-Avens (Geum strictum) 
Yellow Star-Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) 

FERNS 

^laidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) 
Christmas Fern (Aspidium acrosticho- 

ides) 
lObony Spleenwort ( Asplenium ebeneum ) 
Lady Fern (Asplenium Filix-foemina) 
New York Fern (Aspidium Novebora- 

eense) 
Sj)inulose Wood Fern ( Aspidium Spinu- 

losum var. intermedium) 
Evergreen Wood Fern (Aspidium mar- 

ginale) 
Marsh Fern (Aspidiiun Thelypteris) 
Rattlesnake Fern (Botrychium Virgini- 

anum ) 
Ternate Grape Fern (Botrychium dis- 

sectum ) 



26 



PAST ANT) PIU'JSENT 



Hay-scented Fern (Dicksonia pilosins- LYCOPODIUMS 

cula) (Ground Pine) 

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) Lvoopodium lucidulum 

Cinnamon Fern (Osmnnda cinnainonea) Lvcopodium abscuruni 

Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) I.Vcopodium clavatuni 

Interrupted Fern (Osmunda Clayton!- J.ycopodium complanatum 

ana ) 

Broad Beecli Fern (Phegopteris llexa- IIORSP:-TAIL 

gonoptera) Dutch Rushes, Scouring Rush (Equise- 

Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) turn Hyemale) 

Brake or Eagle Fern (Pteris aquilina) Common Horse-tail (Equisetum arvense) 

TREES OF RIDGEWOOD 

No other two syllable word or two-word combination could so fit- 
tingly describe the physical characteristics of this village as the name 
"Ridgewood. " Most of our citizens in deciding to make their homes 
here have been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by the wooded 
or tree-covered ridges. 

Trees are more indispensable to the beautifying of a city than 
architecture of the most aesthetic design. Washington, one of the most 
conspicuous examples of the city beautiful in America, would not be 
half so beautiful without its trees. And tlie trees of this village are 
one of the first of its features to impress the stranger with the desir- 
ability of Ridgewood as a place of residence. 

The healthfulness of Ridgewood, also, which is widely known and 
which has been generally credited to the porous nature of the soil 
and substrata, is in as large a measure due to the influence of the 
trees. It is claimed by the New York County Medical Society that 
"an adequate number of trees in the streets is one of the most effective 
means for mitigating the intense heat of the summer months and 
diminishing the death-rate among children"; and the Newark Shade 
Commission maintains that — 

"The large percentage of ozone in forest air and the scarcity 
of it in the treeless streets where crowded dwellings abound 
demonstrates that this tonic and recuperative element of the air 
is due to the presence of trees and the lack of it to their absence. 
The air in the vicinity of trees contains less bacteria and dust 
particles than does the air outside of tree influence, which again 
demonstrates that the presence of trees decreases the total atmos- 
pheric impurities." 

The site of Ridgewood at the time of the coming of the white man 
was, no doubt, a dense forest of evergreens and deciduous trees. At 
the present time acres of forest land of a later tree growth, Avith here 
and there a specimen tree of the virgin forest, still remain within the 
village limits and only a few minutes' walk from the railroad station. 
To one viewing Ridgewood from the crest of some of its hills, it appears 
as though the Village wci-e built in a forest; and this is actually the 
case with some of the newer sections. 

Following is a list naming the forest trees of Ridgewood and vicinity 
and also, as far as known, the shade and ornamental trees of the 

27 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Village. 


Those marked with an asterisk 


are 


exotic to this immediate 


locality. 


The others are indigenous or naturalized. 




Conifers 






Family ( 


or 






Genus 


Common Name 




Scientific Name 


Ginkgo 


* Maidenhair Tree 




Salisburia adiantifolia 


Pines 


White Pine 




Pinus strobus 




Jersey or Scrub Pine 




Virginiana 




Pitch Pine 




rigida 




* Austrian Pine 




Austriaca 




* Scotch Pine 




sylvestris 




* Swiss Pine 




cembra 




""■ jMugho Pine 




Montana 




* Himalayan Pine 




excelsa 


Larch 


Tamarack 




Larix Americana 


Spruce 


■■* Norway Spruce 




Picea excelsa 




* Colorado Blue Spruce 




pungens glauca 




* White Spruce 




alba 


Firs 


* Nordmann's Fir 




Abies Nordmanniana 


ITemloek 


Hemlock Spruce 




Tsuga Canadensis 


Arliorvitae 


* Common American Arborvitir, 


and 






varieties 




Thuya occidentalis 


]>('tinospora * Japanese Cedars or Japanese 


Cy- 






press in variety 




Chamaecyparis 


Junipers 


Bed Cedar, and many exotics 




Juniperus Virginiana 




BBOAD LEAVED TBEES 


Walnuts 


]}lack Walnut 




Juglans nigra 




]{utternnt 




Cinerea 




■"■ Japanese \\ alinit 




Sieboldiana 


lli(ki)ries 


Pjuiuit or \\ liitc Hickory 




Hicoria glal)ra 




Siiagbark 




orata 




Bitternut 




minima 


I'oplars 


* Carolina i'oplar 




Po|)ulus Carolinensis 




Aspen 




tremuloides 




Large-toothed aspen 




graiulidentata 




'-' Halm of Gilead 




balsa mi f era 




* Abele or White Poplar 




alba 




"" ]jOmbardy 




nigra 


Willows 


Black Willow 




Salix nigra 




Yellow WiHow 




l)landa 




Pussy Willow 




discolor 




* Weeping W'illow 




Babylonica 


Hornbeams 


Hop Hornbeam. Iron wood 




Ostrya Virginiana 




American Hornbeam, Blue Beec 


h 


Carpinus Caroliniana 


Birches 


American White Birch 




Betula populifolia 




Yellow Birch 




lutea 




Red Birch 




nigra 




Cherry, Sweet or Black Birch 




lenta 


AMcr 


Green Alder 




Aliuis viridis 


Beeches 


American Beech 




Fagus Americana 




* European Beech 




sylvatica 




* Fern-leaved Beech 




asplenifolia 




* Weeping Beech 




])endula 




* Cut-leaved Beech 




lietfirophylla 




"•■ Copper Beecli 




purpurea 


Chcstiuils 


American Cliestnnt 








(Only sprouts reniaiiiiiig) 




Castanea dentata 




* Japanese Chestnut 




Japonica 


Oaks 


White Oak 




Quercus alba 



29 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 



Family or 
Genus 
Oaks 



Elms 

iSIiilberries 
^Magnolias 



Sassafras 
Hamamelis 
Liquidambar 
Sycamore 

Apples 
Mountain Ash 

Service Berries 

Crataegus 
Wild Red or 

Yellow Plum 
Cherry 



Yellow- wood 
KVd Bud 
Oleditsia 
Glymnocladus 
Robinia 

Sophora 

Aiiantlnis 

Sumachs 



Hollies 

Burning Bush 
ilaples 



Common Name 

Swamp White Oak 

Chestnut Oak 

Chincapin Oak 

Pin Oak 

Red Oak 

Scarlet Oak 

Black Oak 

Bear or Scrub Oak 
"■ Willow Oak 
'■■ Golden Oak 

White or American Elm 

Slippery Elm 

* English Elm 
Red Mulberry 

* Osage Orange 

^■' Sweet or Swamp Bay 
•• Cucumber Tree 

^^ Chinese and Japanese Magnolias in 
variety 

Sassafras 

Wych Hazel or Witch Hazel 

Sweet Gum 

Buttonwood 

* Plane Tree 
W'ild Crab Apple 

* American Mountain Ash 

* European Ash or Rowan Tree 
Shad-bush 

Dwarf June-berry 
Cockspur Thorn 

Wild Plum 
AVild Black Cherry 
Choke Cherry 
^laz/ards 
"'' Jajianese \\'('('piiig ( hen-y 

* Virgilia 

* Judas Tree 
Honey Locust 

^' Kentucky Coffee Tree 
Black Locust 

* Clammy Locust 

" Japanese Pagoda Tree 
'" Tree of Heaven 

Staghorn Smriach 

Dwarf Sumach 

Poison Simiach 

Smooth Sumach 
"■ American Smoke Tree 

Black Alder 

Smooth Winter-herry 

* Burning Bush 

Red or Swamp ]\Iaple 
Silver or Soft Maple 
Sugar, Rock or Hard ^Taple 
^' Striped Maple or ^loosewood 

* Box Elder or Ash-leaved Maple 
"■ Norway Maple 

* -fapanesc Maples 

30 



Scientific Name 
Quercus platanoides 

prinus 

prinoides 

palustris 

rubra 

coccinia 

velutina 

nana 

phellos 

robur concordia 
LTlmus Americana 

fulva 

campestris 
Morus celtidi folia 
'Joxylon pomiferum 
Magnolia glauca 

acuminata 



Sassafras sassafras 
Hamamelis Virginiana 
Liquidambar styraciflua 
Plantanus occidentalis 

orientalis 
]\Lilus coronaria 
Sorbus Americana 

aucuparia 
Amelanchier Canadensis 

obovalis 
Crataegus Crus-galli 

Pruiuis Americana 
Pi-unus serotina 

VirginiaTia 

Avium 

Cerasus Japonica 

var. Rosea Penduhi. 
Cladrastis lutea 
Cercis Canadensis 
CJIeditsia triacanthos 
Gymnocladus dioicus 
Robinia pseudacacia 

viscosa 
Sophora Japonica 
Ailanthus glaudulosa 
Rhus Hirta 

Copallina 

vernis 

glabra 

cotinus Americana 
Ilex verticillata 

laevigata 
Euonymous atropurpureus 
Acer rubrum 

saccharinum 

saccharum 

Pennsylvanicum 

negiuido 

])latanoi(l(^s 

Japonicum in variety 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Famihj or 






Genus 


Common Name 


Scientific Name 


.Ksciihis 


* White-Flowering, Horse Chestnut 


^Esculus Hippocastanum 




* Red-Flowering, Horse Chestnut 


Carnea 


Lindens 


American Linden, Basswood 


Tilia Americana 




* European Linden 


Europea 




■" C'riiiican Linden 


dasystyla 




Silver Linden 


tomentosa 


Alalia 


"""■•' Hercules Club 


Aralia spinosa 


Nyssa 


Tupelo, Black Gum or Pepperidge 


Nyssa sylvatica 


Dofjwoods 


Flowering Dog^vood 


Cornus Florida 


Persimnidn 


* Persimmon 


Diospyros Virginiana 


Ash 


White Ash 


Fraxinus Americana 




Black Ash 


nigra 


Cliionanthns 


* Wliite Fringe Tree 


Chionanthus Virginica 


Catalpa 


" Indian Bean 


Catalpa Bignonioides 




" C Iiinese Catalpa 


Bungei 




" ^^'estern Catalpa 


speciosa 


Vibiirmnn 


Black Haw 


Viburnum prunifolium 


* Exotic. 




'•'"" Naturalized. 







BIRD LIFE OF RIDGEWOOD 

As might be expected from its beautiful location and surroundings, 
EidgeAvood is very rich in bird life; and the birds will be found very- 
interesting and appreciative by any one who attempts to study and 
attract them. 

Bird life varies Avith the seasons even more than flowers and foliage. 
In considering the "Bird Life of Ridgewood," it may be well to divide 
them into four main classes — Permanent Residents, Summer Residents, 
Winter Residents, and Transients. There is another class known as 
Occasional Visitants, but its name will immediately eliminate it from 
consideration in this publication. 

By far the largest and best known group is that of the Summer 
Residents. Few there are of the more observant people who do not 
recognize the song and chipping sparrows, the house wren, the swallows, 
the catbird, the bluebird, the robin, and perhaps one or two of the other 
thrushes. Tlie interest in birds, and consequently the knowledge of 
them, is becoming so much more general that there are probably many 
Ridgewooditcs who know a great many more than these. One resident 
in particular, the late Henry Hales, took an enthusiastic interest in 
bird life. He made a most valuable collection of birds, particularly 
tliose of this locality. Through his many articles on bird life written 
for scientific papers, he became a recognized authority on the subject. 
Many persons liavc shown tlieir love for our feathered friends by plac- 
ing bird liouses on tlieir grounds. The ])ractice of erecting bird houses 
and maintaining feeding stations for birds is commended to any one 
Avho wishes to l)enefit his own home and the village at large, and 
who would enjoy many liappy hours in ol)servation and study of these 
shy yet friendly-disposed neighbors. 

The house wren and the blue bird are undoubtedly the species most 
easily attracted by the nesting box, if we except always the English 
sparrow, which will quite unceremoniously make himself comfortable 

31 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

in any available place, whether his presence is desired or not. Robins 
take kindly to shallow boxes or shelves placed in sheltered spots and, 
if they are not disturbed, will often become tame enough to nest under 
the eaves of the piazza roof. Chipping sparrows are very fond of 
dose privet hedges, grape vines and low bushes. Sometimes a song 
sparrow will be found Avho has the temerity to make a home in 
shrubbery not far from the house. Those who live on the outskirts 
of tlie village and have barns with haylofts will have no trouble in 
attracting barn swallows, if there are ventilators or other openings 
through which the birds may pass in going to and from their nests. 

One may find, in wandering afield, that the possibilities are almost 
unlimited for the careful student who is able to recognize all the 
species of the Summer Residents he sees. He will probably first be 
attracted by the birds of the air — barn and tree swallows, chimney 
swifts, and perhaps crows and bluejays, the two latter being Permanent 
Residents. Down by Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, or in similar places, he may 
see water thrushes stepping quietly along over the pebbles on the shore. 
In the bushes nearby may be found many other kinds of warblers, 
notably black and white, yellow and black throated, blue, Maryland 
yellow-throats, and American redstarts. In the adjacent thickets the 
loud crescendo chant, "Teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher," 
reveals the modest ovenbird. Red-eyed vireos keep up a continual 
chatter in the trees overhead, and from the thickets where the Mary- 
land yellow-throats flit to and fro, may be heard the harsh call notes 
of the catbird. Back in the more obscure places the Wood and Wilson 
thrushes hold forth with their liquid notes, particularly toward even- 
ing, and pour forth music well worth the attention of the passerby. 
Here, or in still more secluded nooks, the bird lover may hear the quiet 
chuckle of the black-billed cuckoo or "raincrow, " but it Avill take 
careful stalking and diligent search if he is actually to catch a glimpse 
of the author of the notes. At a wide spot in the brook or over some 
ice pond he may see a kingfisher poised for a sudden dive as an un- 
suspecting "sunny" comes to the surface within the scope of his keen 
vision ; or he may hear him clatter noisily as he flies overhead to seek 
new pools for investigation, the bright blue and white flashing bril- 
liantly against the darker foliage. 

Out in the open fields a medley made up of many voices will fall 
upon the listener's ears. A little practice, however, will enable him 
to distinguisli the whistle of the meadowlark, the similar and yet dif- 
ferent thrills of the chipping and field sparrows, the "cherink" of 
the chewink or towhee, and many other characteristic bird calls and 
songs. Perhaps in the top of a tree in the middle of the field will be 
a brown thrasher pouring forth a varied, but far from unpleasant, 
jumble of notes. If it is well on toward midsummer, he may catch 
the flash of yellow and black as a goldfinch, or more often a flock of 
them, passes over with a jerky and undulating flight. 

If, as frequently is the case, the field slopes down to a marshy spot, 
with wild flags, arrowhead and cat-tails, he will find any quantity of 
red-winged blackbirds flying back and forth or circling overhead, utter- 
ing their distinctive " conk-err-ee-e. " Here also he may find the less 

32 



PAST AND PRESENT 



conspicuous rusty blackbird or the larger and more highly tinted purple 
grackle, although these two are more often found in drier locations. 

At any time on an open country road the wayfarer may start up 
inconspicuous birds that fly ahead along the fences and disclose white 
outer tail feathers, tlie characteristic mark of the vesper sparrow. In 
the ti-ees along the roadside a flash of black and orange will betray 
the Baltimore oriole, Avhose nest is suspended from the very tip of 
one of the branches. Flying over the road to his hole in a telegraph 
])ole or hollow tree in an orchard may be seen the flicker or golden- 
winged Avoodpeeker, easily to be distinguished by its graceful undu- 
lating flight and the flash of yellow as the sunlight strikes the lower 
surface of his wings. Another woodpecker, which is a Permanent Resi- 
dent and may be encountered almost anywhere, is the downy, or more 
particularly the northern downy ; for there is a slightly smaller variety 
which is common in the South. A bird more thoroughly at home in 
the orchard, but frequently seen on the telephone or telegraph wires 
along the roadside, is the kingbird, easily recognized by the head-crest 
and the white tip to each tail feather, making the tail appear to have 
a white border. Even more connnon in orchards, and frequently found 
nesting under old bridges, is the phoebe, known to almost every one. 
Quiet and unassuming as the phoebe is, it is particularly industrious 
in consuming large numbers of harmful insects. 

Another Permanent Resident not seen quite so much in Summer 
perhaps as in Winter, is the well-known black-capped chickadee. In 
New England this bird has been reported as nesting in artificial houses. 
A bird more common than ordinarily supposed, but one frequently 
overlooked on account of its small size and lightning-like movements, 
is the brilliant little ruby-throated hummingbird, which darts here and 
there among tlie flowers, poising himself occasionally before one of them 
to take honey on the wing, only to be off again in a flash to a flower 
in another section of the garden. 

Probably many Avhose interest is greater than their knowledge have 
wondered what bird is responsible for the queer antics and nasal 
"peent" that they have observed toward dusk. This is none other 
than the nighthawk, which is much more common around Ridgewood 
than the whip-poor-will, from which it may be distinguished by the 
white markings on the wings and by the forked tail. 

The fall migration affords the bird-lover an opportunity to see 
species which are not here at any other time except during the corre- 
sponding period in the reverse migration in the spring. By far the 
most numerous migrants in point of variety are the warblers, and 
most prominent among these is the myrtle warbler, which comes early 
and stays late. It is very difficult to distinguish the warblers in the 
fall of the year, as the male, female and young all take on dull 
plumage, whicli makes them look practically alike and very similar to 
tlie other warblers. The yellow-palm is another fairly connnon migrant 
which may be distinguished fi-om other Avarblers by the chestnut crown 
and side spots and the white patches on the outer tail feathers. It 
may be found in open woods and along roadsides, but it more often 
frequents the neighborhood of a brook. 

33 



RIBGEWOOB, BERGEN COVNTY, NEW JERSEY 

At least two sparrows are fairly common during migration; the 
Fox — known by its large size and fox-like color — and the white-throated 
— identified by its striped crown, white throat and faint wing bars. 

Spring is, of course, the ideal time to see birds in greatest variety. 
At that time they all wear their fresh spring plumage and bridal colors. 
Fifty varieties of birds is a reasonable number to be identified on 
almost any day of the first two weeks of May. To make this record, 
however, one must be able to recognize a bird quickly and accurately, 
and should visit the highland and the lowland, the open field and the 
shady wood. 

Only the bird lover knows how very favorable a time is the winter 
for bird study. At this season a blanket of snow often conceals the 
natural sources of bird food. One w^ho at this time provides a bird 
feeding shelf at a sheltered window and watches the various species 
that avail themselves of his fare, will be surprised and delighted at 
the variety and friendliness of his bird guests. 

Chickadees, downy woodpeckers, and white-breasted nuthatches will 
visit the feeding shelf quite regularly, and juncos, bluejays, goldfinches, 
and redpolls are pretty sure to appear occasionally. English sparrows 
will need no urging to attend the feast. Indeed there may be difficulty 
in keeping them from becoming so numerous that they drive away the 
other birds. Tree sparrows, winter wrens, and crows spend the winter 
with us; but they are inclined to be shy and it is not likely that any 
of them would patronize the window-shelf lunch counter. 

Nearly every variety of bird visiting this section of the country is 
found in Ridgewood. The following list shows those which have been 
seen and identified by its residents : 

Blackbird. Pvod-winoed (Agolaius phoeni- Coldfinch, Anipriean ( Astragalinus tris- 

ceus) tis) 

Blackbird. Tiii^ty (Eiiphagus carolimis) Grackle, Purple or Crow Blackbird 
Bluebird (Sialia sialis) (Quiscalus quiscula) 

Bluejay (Cyanoeitta cristata) Grosbeak, Pine (Piuicola enucleator leu- 
Bobolink (Doliclionyx oryzivorus) cura) 

Bunting, Indigo (Passerina cyanea) Grosbeak, Rose-breasted (Zamelodia 
Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) ludoviciana) 

Cliickadee. Black-capped (Penthestes Hawk, Cooper (i\ccipiter cooperi) 

atricapilhis) Hawk, Marsh (Circus hudsonius) 

Cowbird (]\Iolotbrus ater) Tfawk, Red-shouldered (Buteo lineatus) 

Creeper. Brown (Certhia fainiliaris Hawk, Sparrow (Falco sparverius) 

Americana) Heron, Green ( Butorides virescens) 

Crossbill, American (Loxia curvirosta Hummingbird, Ruby-tliroated (Archilo- 

iriinor) elms colubris) 

Crow. Ameiican fCorvus brachyrhyn- .Tunco, Slate-colored (Junco hyemalis) 

chos) Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 

Cuckoo, Black-billed (Coccyzus erythrop- Kingfisher, Belted (Ceryle alcyon) 

thalmus) Kinglet, Golden-crowned (Regulus 
Cuckoo, Ye11(nv-l)illed (Coccyzus Ameri- satrapa) 

caiuis) Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 

Fincli, Pine or Siskin (Spinus pinus) Xuthatch, Red-breasted (Sitta eanaden- 
Fincli, Pui-ple (Caipodacus purpureus) sis) 

Flicker or Higli Tbde ( Colaptes auraius) Xuthatch. Wliite-breasted (Sitta caro 
I'-lycatcher. Crested (^lyiarchus ci'initus) linensis) 

Flycatcher, Least (Empidonax minimiis) Xighthawk (Chordeiles virginianus) 

Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied (Empidonax Oriole, Baltimore (Icterus galbula) 

flaviventris) Oriole, Orchard (Icterus spurius) 

34 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Oveubird (Seiurus aiirocapillus) Warblor, Bay-breasted (Dendroiea cas- 

Owl, Screech (Otiis osio) tanea) 

Pewee, Wood (Myioclianes virens) Warbler, Blackburniaii (Dendroiea 

Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) fusca) 

Pipit, American, or Titlark (Anthus Warbler, Black Poll (Dendroiea striata) 

rnbescens) Warbler, Black-throated Blue (Dendroiea 
Bedpoll (Acanthis linaria) ctTrulescens) 

Redstart, American (Setophaga ruti- Waibler, Black and White Creeping 

cilia) (INlniotilta varia) 

Robin. American (Phinesticus migra- Warljler, Black-thrnatcd Green (Den- 

torius) droica virens) 

Sparrow, ('lii])ping (Spi/.ella passerina) Warbler, Blue-winged (Vormivora pinus) 

Sparrow, English (Passer domesticus) Warbler, Canadian (Wilsonia canaden- 
Sparrnw, Fox (Passerella ilica) sis) 

Sparrow, Field (Spizella pusilla) Warbler, Cape ]\Iay (Dendroiea tigrina) 

Sparrow, Song (]\Ielos))iza melodia) Warbler, Chestnut-sided (Dendroiea 
Sparrow, Swamp (^lelospiza georgiana) pennsylvanica) 

Sparrow, Tree (Spizella monticola) Warbler, Magnolia (Dendroiea mag- 
Sparrow, Vesper (Pooci^tes gramineus) nolia) 

Sparrow. White-crowned (Zonotrichia Warbler, IMyrtle (Dendroiea coronata) 

leiicophrys) Warbler, Parula (( 'ompsothlypis ameri- 
Sparrow, White-throated (Zonotrichia cana) 

albicollis) Warbler, Northern Parula (Compsoth- 
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) lypis usnea) 

Swallow, Bank (Riparia riparia) Warbler, Tennessee (Vermivora pere- 
Swallow, Barn (Tlirundo erythrogastra) grina) 

Swallow, Tree (Tridoprocne bicolor) Warbler, Worm-eating (Helmintheros 
Swift, Chimney ( Choetura pelagiea ) vermivora) 

Tanager, Scarlet (Piranga erythromelas) Warbler, Yellow (Dendroiea sestiva) 

Thrasher, Brown (Toxostoma rufum) ^^ arbler. Yellow-Palm (Dendroiea pal- 
Thrush, Hermit (Hylocichla guttata marum hypochrysea) 

pallasii) Wax Wing, Cedar (Bombycilla cedro- 
Thrush, Water (Seirus noveboracensis) rum) 

Thrush. Wilson, or Veery (Hylocichla Whip-Poor-Will (Antrostomiis vociferus) 

fuscescens) \Yondpecker, Downy (Dryobates pubes- 
Thrush, \Vood (Hylocichla mustelina) cens medianus) 

Towhee or Chewink (Pijiilo erythroph- Woodpecker, Hairy (Dryoliates villosus) 

thalmus) Woodpecker, Reel-Headed (INlelanerpes 
Titmouse, Tufted (B(Polophus bicolor) erythrocephalus) 

Vireo, Red-eyed (Vireosylva olivacea) Wren, House (Troglodytes redon) 

Vireo. White-eyed (Vireo griseus) Wren. Winter (Nannus hiemalis) 

Vireo, Yellow-throated (Lanivereo flavi- Yellow-throat, Maryland (Geothlypis 

frons) trichas) 

A bird census, taken on Christmas Day, 1915, at a feeding station 
on the oji'onnds of Carl M. Vail, Ridgewood, N. J., witli sky overcast, 
f^round snow-covered, light sonth-west winds, temperature 40 degrees 
to 45 degrees, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. shows the following ])irds: 

Hairy Woodpecker 1 

Blue Jay Several 

Purple Finch 2 (Male and Female) 

American Goldfincli I 

English Sparrow iNTany 

Chipping Sparrow 1 

Tree Sparrow 1 

White-breasted Xullialcli Several 

Golden-crowned Kingld 2 

Downy Woodpecker Several 

Starling ^Fanv 

Redpoll 4 

Pine Finch Several 

35 ' ' ■, ! 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Wliite-throated Sparrow 2 

Slate-colored Junco Many 

Titlark Several 

Black-capped Chickadee Many 

Hermit Thrush 1 

Total — Eighteen species; individuals too numerous to count. 



3G 



CHAPTER III 

CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC 

AFFAIRS 

POLITICAL DIVISIONS 

ON March 12, 1663, Charles II. granted to James, Duke of York, 
a large tract, including the present State of New Jersey. 

In 1664, on the 24th day of June, the Duke of York made a con- 
veyance to John Berkely and George Carteret of the entire Province 
of New Jersey. This instrument Avas the first wherein the boundaries 
of the present State were defined. The consideration for the convey- 
ance was ten shillings. The conveyance defined the property as being 
all that tract of land adjacent to New England and lying and being 
to the westward of Long Island and Manhattan Island: bounded on 
the east, part by the main sea and part by the Hudson River; and 
hath upon the west, Delaware Bay or River and extendeth southward 
to the main ocean as far as Cape May at the mouth of Delaware 
Bay; and to the northward as far as the northermost branch of 
said bay or river of Delaware, which is forty-one degrees and forty 
minutes of latitude, and worketh over thence in a straight line to 
Hudson's River; which said tract of land is hereafter to be called by 
the name or names of "Nova Cesarea" or New Jersey. 

In 1675, John Berkely offered his half interest in the Province of 
New Jersey for sale and the same was purchased by John Fenwick, 
in trust for Edward Byllinge, for one thousand pounds. 

The title of the whole of New Jersey was thus vested in George 
Carteret and Edward Byllinge. They agreed upon a partition of it, 
July the first, 1676. The trustees of Byllinge conveyed to Cartaret 
their interest in all the land lying east of a line drawn "from the 
East side of Little Egg Harbor, straight North through the Country, 
to the utmost branch of the Delaware River ; thus dividing the Province 
into two parts, known as East and West Jersey." 

Carteret by this conveyance became the sole owner of East Jersey. 

Carteret died in 1679 and left a will, dated December 5, 1678, 
whereby he ordered that the Province of East Jersey should be sold 
to pay his debts. This conveyance was made by his widow and execu- 
tors, February 1, 1682, to twelve individuals styled as the Twelve 
Proprietors. Subsequently during the same year the Twelve Proprie- 
tors each took a partner and conveyances were made vesting the title 
in them common Avith the original twelve. These with the other twelve 
were the Twenty-four Proprietors, or the Proprietors or owners of 
East Jersey. 

The Province of East Jersey was divided into four counties, March 
7, 1682, viz. : Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. 

Bergen County at this time extended from the Hudson River to 
the Hackensack River, and the Town of Bergen, now a part of Hudson 
County and situated in the vicinity of the Dutch Reformed Church 
of Bergen on Bergen Avenue, was the seat of government. 

37 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The division of counties in 1682 caused great dissatisfaction among 
the people. They complained that the counties were too large, that 
the distances between their homes and the county seat were too great, 
and that traveling such long distances over bad roads in all sorts of 
weather interfered with their pursuits and subjected them to great 
expense and bodily discomfort. They petitioned the legislature from 
time to time for relief, and on January 21, 1709, the legislature passed 
an act entitled "An Act for dividing and ascertaining the boundaries 
of all the Counties in the Province." 

The bounds of Bergen County in this act were described as follows: 
"That in the eastern division, the County of Bergen shall begin at 
Constable's Hook and so run up along the Bay and Hudson's River 
to the partition point between New Jersey and Province of New York; 
and so run along the partition line between the provinces, and the 
division line of the eastern and western division of this Province to 
Pequaneck River, and so to run down to the Pequaneck and Pessaick 
River to the Sound, and so to follow the Sound to Constable's Hook 
where it began." 

By this act the entire section of the county west of the Hackensack 
River, which had been previously a part of Essex County, including 
the Village of Ridgewood, became a part of Bergen County. The 
county at this time was divided into two townships : Hackensack Town- 
ship, including the portion of the county between the Hudson and 
Hackensack Rivers, and New Barbadoes Township, the balance of the 
county, including the Village of Ridgewood. 

Franklin Township was formed from New Barbadoes about the year 
1767. Ridgewood Township was formed from Franklin Township on 
March 30, 1876. It then covered an area of three square miles, the 
population of which was about twelve hundred. 

In 1894 the Village of Ridgewood was incorporated. At the same 
time the municipalities of Midland Park and Glen Rock were formed 
into boroughs, thereby making the village and township lines of Ridge- 
wood coextensive. Effective July 1, 1902, a part of Orvil Township 
was added to the northeastern portion of Ridgewood, while in 1915 a 
portion of the northwestern territory of Ridgewood towards Waldwick 
was annexed to Orvil Township. 

RELATION BETWEEN VILLAGE, COUNTY AND STATE 

When we say that we live in the Village of Ridgewood, County of 
Bergen, and State of New Jersey, the statement includes more than 
a designation of the place where we reside. It also means that the 
municipal or local government under which we live is that of a village, 
that the corporation having charge of the county affairs is the Board 
of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Bergen, and that our state 
government is that of the State of New Jersey. 

The State is supreme, and the powers of the legislature are limited 
only by the Constitution of the State and the Constitution of the United 
States. 

Its legislature at its pleasure can, by the enactment of laws, create 

38 



PAST AND PRESENT 



or destroy counties and miinieipalities and change and alter their 
boundaries and the powers of their governing bodies. 

ViUages are now formed by the passing of a special act of the 
legislature, designating the name of the village and describing the 
boundaries of the territory of which it is to be composed. This char- 
acter of legislation requires public notice prior to the enactment. Upon 
the passage of such an act the laws relating to the government of 
villages apply to the territory affected. The governing body of the 
village has no power except such as is authorized by laws enacted by 
the legislature. 

In the matter of raising the revenues of the state, the village is 
both directly and indirectly affected. The revenues of the state are 
derived largely from taxes upon corporations, railroads, franchises, 
and decedents' estates, income from riparian lands, and automobile 
licenses. Whether any of these taxes affect the residents of the village 
depends upon their interest in the subject matter of such taxation. A 
portion of the state school tax is raised by a direct tax on all the 
taxable property in the state and, therefore, affects every owner of 
taxable property in the village. The village receives in return from 
the states its portion of the state school moneys, which are derived 
by the state from railroad tax, rentals of riparian lands, the income 
from moneys derived from the sale of riparian lands, and the state 
school tax. The state distributes these moneys through the county col- 
lectors of the several counties to the custodian of the school monej's 
of the several municipalities in the county. The Custodian of the 
School Funds in the Village of Ridgewood is the village Collector. 
The apportionment of the state school moneys is based on attendance 
at the public schools. 

The business of our county is transacted by a Board called "The 
Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Bergen," which is a 
corporation of the county. It was formerly composed of members elected 
by the cities and townships of the county, the boroughs and villages 
joining in the election with the township from which the larger part 
of such boroughs or villages were formed. Since January 1, 191(5, 
the Board lias been composed of seven members elected by the voters 
of the county at large. The principal officers of the Board of Chosen 
Freeholders are Director, Clerk, County Collector, Counsel, County 
Engineer, and County Road Supervisor. The Sheriff, County Clerk, 
and Surrogate are county officers independent of the Board of Chosen 
Freeholders, but accountable to the Board for all moneys or property 
coming into their hands or custody and belonging to the county. The 
members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders act as the directors of 
a corporation in the management of the county affairs. The powers 
of the Board are ministerial. It is the custodian of the property of 
the county. It is charged with the management of the Poor House, 
Jail, and Court House, and with the construction and maintenance 
of bridges and culverts. It has power to require all public officers of 
the county to account for the moneys and property belonging to the 
county and enti'ustcd to such officers. These powers and duties have 

39 



KIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

been commonly held and exercised by the Board of Chosen Freeholders 
from its earliest existence. 

Until about 1890 the roads were maintained by the inhabitants of 
the several municipalities. Many of these roads were main thorough- 
fares through the county and state and were of more importance for 
travel to the county or state at large than to the inhabitants of the 
particular numicipalities. About this time the state began to realize 
that the burden of constructing and maintaining these main thorough- 
fares belonged more properly to the county and state, and in 1891 
tlie legislature authorized the Boards of Chosen Freeholders of the 
several counties to adopt county roads and to improve the same with 
state aid. About the same time laws were passed authorizing the 
Board of Freeholders to adopt county roads and to improve them with- 
out state aid. The state and counties are now bearing a large part 
of the burden of the construction and maintenance of public roads. 

The Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Bergen was slow 
in adopting county roads. The first road improved by the Board with 
state aid in this county Avas the Paterson Plank Road, in the year 
1909. Since that time, and especially about the beginning of the year 
1912, the Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a large number of 
county roads and improved the same, some with and others without 
state aid. 

In our village two of the main thoroughfares. Maple Avenue and 
Paramus Road, were improved by the county Board without state aid 
and, between the boundaries of the curb lines, are now county roads, 
under the jurisdiction of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. 

Nearly all the revenues of the county are derived from direct taxa- 
tion. The Board of Cliosen Freeholders is required not later than 
the first Tuesday of August in each year to make out a budget of the 
moneys which have been appropriated and Avhich are to be raised by 
taxes for county purposes. This budget is sent to the County Board 
of Taxation before the second Tuesday in August in each year. The 
County Board apportions the taxes among the taxing districts of the 
county. Other moneys received by the Board of Chosen Freeholders 
of the county are the fees collected hy the Surrogate and County Clerk, 
and fines and penalties collected by the Sheriff. In addition to this, 
a portion of the automobile license money collected by the state is 
given to the Board for repair of county roads. 

The management of county affairs is closely related to the welfare 
of each municipality. Economy and efficiency are shown by a com- 
parison of the amount of taxes raised with the improvements made 
by the Board. In every direction the activities of the village are inter- 
woven with those of the county. The Assessor of the village assesses 
the property for the state and county taxes as well as for the taxes 
of the village. The Collector of the village collects the state school 
and county taxes as well as the taxes for village purposes. The village 
government fixes the amount of the village taxes. The first two are 
determined respectively by tlie state legislature and by the Board of 
Chosen Freeholders. The Overseer of the Poor, a village officer, fur- 
nishes temporary relief for the poor of the village. Permanent relief 

40 



PAST AND PRESENT 



is provided b}^ the county. The insane, tubercular, and criminal de- 
pendents are provided for by tlie state and county through the Board 
of Chosen Freeholders. The bridges and culverts on all of the public 
roads in the village are constructed and cared for by the same Board. 
County roads through the villages also are maintained by them. 

The state, county, and village are so closely related in the manage- 
ment of the business relating to the public welfare that every citizen 
should take an active interest in the manner in which such business 
is conducted by the state and county, as well as by the village. 

ridgewood's form of government 
Township Committee 

In 1876, when the Township of Ridgewood was set off from Franklin 
Township, Bergen County was composed largely of farming communi- 
ties. The nearness of its fertile acres to the cities of New York, Jersey 
City, Newark and Paterson made farming the chief pursuit of its citizens. 
There were no cities and the local governments were townshii>s. 

The original township government in this state was elementary in 
form and adapted to rural conmiunities. 

The most important political event in the township government 
was the town meeting, Avhich Avas held annually on the second Monday 
of April. Between the hours of eleven and twelve of that day the 
electors assembled and chose some person to preside at the meeting. 
His duty was to conduct the business thereof in a regular and orderly 
manner and in case of dispute to determine who had the right to vote. 

The law directed that if any person should behave in a disorderly 
manner or interrupt the person speaking by unnecessary noise or con- 
versation, and if such person should, after notice from the presiding 
officer, persist in disorderly behavior, then it was the duty of the 
])residing officer to direct tliat such disorderly person withdraw from 
the meeting and forfeit one dollar for such offense. If he refused or 
neglected to witlidraw from the meeting, the constables of the town- 
sliip were directed l)y the chairman of the meeting to put such person 
in a place of confinement where he would be detained until the meet- 
ing was ended. 

Prior to 1841 the vote at the town meeting was taken by the rais- 
ing of hands, separating the voters, or viva voce. In that year the 
legislature directed, by special act, that the voting in Franklin Town- 
ship should be by ballot. 

The principal objects for which money was ordered raised by the 
voters at the toAvn meeting were for the support of the poor, the 
building and repairing of pounds, the destruction of noxious wild 
animals and birds, the opening, making, working and repairing of 
roads, and prosecuting and defending the common rights of the town- 
ship. 

The qualified voters of the town meeting made and ordered such 
regulations and by-laws as a majority of them so assembled might 
think proper for the improving of their common land in tillage, pastur- 
age or in any other way, and directed the use, management and times 

41 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

of- using their eonunon lands, and elected tive "Judicious Freeholders" 
(property owners of judgment) as the township committee, which upon 
the first election (1876) consisted of Cornelius J. Bogert, N. R. Bunce, 
Peter G. Hopper, Albert P. Hopper and Thomas Terhune. The other 
original officers elected were Township Clerk, N. R. Bunce; Assessor, 
John A. Marinus; Collector, James Zabriskie; Chosen Freeholder, G. 
G. Van Dien; two Surveyors of the Highway, Overseers of the Poor, 
Constables, three judicious Freeholders of good character as Commis- 
sioners of Appeal in matters of taxation, and one reputable Free- 
liolder as Judge of Election. In some townships the Overseers of the 
Highway were elected at the town meeting and in other townships 
by the several road districts. 

The Townshij) Committee was the governing body of the township. 
Its members were required to be property owners and their duties 
were largely ministerial. They examined, inspected and reported at 
the town meetings the accounts and vouchers of township officers, 
superintended the expending of moneys raised by taxation for the use 
of the township, read at the town meeting the statement of the accounts 
of the money expended in the townsliip by the county Board of Chosen 
Freeholders, and settled disputes in reference to partition fences. 

The duties of the Assessor and of the Collector were practically 
the same as today. The Assessor was a member of the county Board 
of Assessors, and as such adjusted the assessment between the various 
municipalities and fixed the tax rate for county and state taxes. These 
duties of the Assessor have in recent years been taken over by the 
county Board of Taxation. 

The roads at this time were laid out or altered by surveyors of 
highways. On application to the Court of Common Pleas of ten or 
more freeholders, the Court appointed six surveyors of higliAvays. 
These surveyors or a majority of them met and determined upon the 
necessity of the road and assessed the damages or benefits resulting 
from the laying out or altering of the road, and directed the time 
when the road should be opened or altered. Roads were opened and 
repaired by the Overseers of the Highways. The Township Committee 
assigned and appointed in Avriting to the Overseers of the Highway 
their several limits and division of the highways within the township 
for opening, working and repairing. Every person assessed for the 
raising of money to open or repair the highways could work out his 
tax or any part of it on giving notice to the Overseers within whose 
limits or division he resided. 

The powers and duties of the township officers were such as the 
government of a farming community would require. 

Village Trustees 

The development of railroads changed the character of these com- 
munities in Bergen County from farming to suburban, from sparsely 
settled districts to thickly settled communities. These changes brought 
with them many and difficult municipal problems for solution, among 
which were street improvements, water supply, sewerage, police and 
fire protection. Altliough tlie township laws wei'e amended from time 

42 



PAST AND PRESENT 



to time, the methods of township goveriimcnt were unsatisfactory and 
were not suited to these changed conditions and not adapted to the 
solution of these problems. Prior to the new state constitution of 
1875, special charters were granted to cities and many other munici- 
palities. After that date the Legislature sought by general statute to 
provide for the government of municipalities. 

In 1878 the Legislature provided for the formation, in a township 
or part of a township, of boroughs not exceeding four square miles 
each; in 1891 it provided for the organization from a township or 
part of a township of villages whose population should be at least 
300 inhabitants for each square mile. These municipalities were created 
after an election held to determine whether the territory described in 
the application should be incorporated as a borough or a village. Orig- 
inally both the borough and the village remained a part of the town- 
ship for certain purposes, notably for the election of a county Free- 
holder. The villages voted with the township in the election of the 
Collector and the Assessor. A short time prior to the year 1893 
boroughs were permitted to include Avithin their limits a portion of 
one or more townships. 

In the last mentioned year the Legislature provided that unless a 
borough contained a portion of two municipalities, it could not have 
a Chosen Freeholder. A large number of boroughs were then formed 
in Bergen County, caching taking a portion of two or more townships in 
order to have a representative in the Board of Chosen Freeholders. 

The boroughs of Midland Park and Glen Rock each had included 
within their territories a portion of the Township of Ridgewood. In 
order to prevent further reduction in the territory and to provide a 
more suitable government, on the twenty-seventh day of September, 
1894, a petition was presented to Judge Van Valen, Law Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas of the County of Bergen, to fix a time 
and place for an election, to submit to the voters the question of 
incorporating the remaining portion of the township into a village. 
The election was held Novem])er 15, 1895, and resulted in a vote of 
277 for the incorporation and 62 against it. The township at that 
time was composed of about 5V1> square miles, with an assessed valua- 
tion of real estate of about $1,000,000 and a population of about 2,200. 
The new governing body of the village was a Board of Trustees of 
five members, Milton T. Richardson, H. E. Hopper, Joseph W. Ed- 
wards, Dr. Geo. M. Ockford, and W. J. Fullerton, who served without 
compensation. The Board elected Mr. Richardson President and Mr. 
Fullerton Treasurer, who thus became respectively the President and 
Treasurer of the village. The other officers of the village, Village 
Clerk, Village Counsel, Street Superintendent, and Policemen, were 
appointed by the Board of Trustees and held office at the pleasure of 
the Board. The village Trustees had exclusive jurisdiction over the 
streets within the limits of the village and had power to lay out, 
widen, and vacate streets and provide for their lighting; to create a 
police and fire department; to construct sewers and drains and other 
street improvements; to license and regulate public hacks, peddlers and 
liucksters; and to cause to be raised l)y taxation eveiy year such sums 

43 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

of luoney as they deemed expedient for the current expenses of the 
village. Their important legislative power in the village was exercised 
in drawing up, considering, and passing of ordinances. The Assessor, 
Collector and C'hosen Freeholder of the township still continued to 
act for the village, and the Township Committee performed certain 
formal duties within the village. In the year 1896 the legislature 
abolished the Township Committee for the Township and Village of 
Ridgewood, vesting the powers of the Committee in the Board of 
Trustees. 

In 1912 the offices of township Clerk, Assessor and Collector were 
abolished and the governing body was authorized to appoint a Collector 
and an Assessor for the village. 

The Village of Ridgewood was governed by a Board of Trustees 
for seventeen years. During this time many municipal propositions 
for the improvement and development of the village Avere acted upon 
by the Trustees. A system of sewers Avas constructed, public franchises 
for water, gas and telephone Avere granted, and many street improve- 
ments were made. The last Board of Trustees consisted of Frederick 
li. Bogcrt, President ; George F. Brackett, John J. Lanuuier, Joseph H. 
Martin, and James H. Snyder. 

Village Commissioners 

The endeavor to secure greater efficiency in the administration of 
municipal affairs in this state resulted in the passing by the legislature 
of 1911 of what is known as the AValsh or Commission Form of Gov- 
ernment Act. 

Consideration of the adoption of the commission form of govern- 
ment is left to the voters of any community at an election called for 
that purpose. The Village of Ridgewood was among the first to adopt 
the new act. The petition for an election was presented to the village 
Clerk, and an election was held on the second day of September, 1911. 
This election resulted in the adoption of the new form of government. 
On the seventh day of November, 1911, Daniel A. Garber, George U. 
White, and Frederick Pfeifer were elected Commissioners of the Village 
of Ridgewood, and on the fourteenth day of November, 1911, the new 
government was organized. 

While the Village still continues to be governed by the laws relating 
to a village, the methods of administration of Village affairs was changed 
by the adoption of the commission form of government. The number 
of Commissioners is determined by the population. Municipalities hav- 
ing a population of 10,000 or over have five Commissioners; under 
10,000, such as Ridgewood, the number of Commissioners is three. The 
powers of the Commissioners are determined by the village act. The 
method of procedure remains the same as under the Board of Village 
Trustees except as modified by the law relating to commission govern- 
ments. Some of the distinctive provisions of the new form of gov- 
ernment are as follows: 

(1) A special day is appointed for the election of Commissioners 
other than the general election day; preferential ballot is used and 
party politics practically is eliminated from tlie election. 

44 



PAST AND PRESENT 



(2) The Commissioners are elected for a term of four years; the 
terms of all Commissioners to expire at the same time. All other 
officers are appointed by the Commissioners. 

(3) The right of Recall is exercised by the voters, who poss^ess the 
right by petition to require any Commissioner, if he desires to continue 
as Commissioner, to run again for the office at a special election called 
for that purpose. 

(4) The legal voters possess the right of Initiative. By petition 
they may require any ordinance to be passed, amended, or repealed 
by the Commissioners, or else to be submitted to the voters for their 
action. 

(5) The legal voters possess the right of Eeferendum. By petition 
they may require any ordinance passed by the Commissioners to be 
repealed or else to be submitted to the vote of the people. 

In order to safeguard this right of Referendum, no ordinance takes 
effect until ten days after its final passage, unless it is an ordinaiice 
for tlie immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety. 

(6) Each member of the Board has particular work to perform. 

Upon its organization, one member is elected mayor, and he there- 
upon becomes the presiding officer. The Mayor ex-officio is director 
of the department of public affairs and public safety. 

By a majority vote of the Board, one of the remaining members is 
appointed director of the department of revenue and finance. Upon 
him falls, in addition to the duties of his department, the duty of acting 
as presiding officer in the absence of the mayor. The other member is 
appointed director of the department of streets and public improve- 
ments, parks and public pi'operty. 

(7) In transacting the business of the nranicipality, every resolu- 
tion or ordinance must be reduced to writing and read before the vote 
is taken. The yea and nay vote must be recorded and the resolutions 
and ordinances signed by a majority of the members of the Board. 

Resolutions and ordinances providing for the appropriation of 
money for street improvements, and for granting franchises are re- 
quired before final passage to remain on file with the clerk for two 
weeks for public inspection. No franchise is granted except by ordi- 
nance which must be publislied before final passage and receive the 
approval of a majority of all members. 

(8) The mayor receives a salary of one thousand dollars and the 
other connnissioncrs salaries of seven hundred fifty dollars each. 

(9) The Board is required to hold regular meetings at least once 
each week. These meetings and the record of their proceedings are 
open to the public. 

The Board of Commissioners appoint the subordinate officers and 
boards for the Village. The most important of tlie present village 
officials are : Village Clerk and Collector, Wilbur Morris ; Assessor, Louis 
11. Kroder ; Engineer, F. W. Simonds ; Recorder, F. V. Watson ; Coun- 
sel, J. W. De Yoe. The names of other officers, such as the Superin- 
tendent of Streets, Superintendent of Police and members of that de- 
partment. Chief of Fire Department and members of that department, 
Board of Health and Shade Tree Commission, are shown in the chapter 

45 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

of this book which relates to the particular department or commission. 
P]ach officer, department, and board has specific duties to perform in 
the successful working of the local self-government. 

The commission form of government has succeeded to a large degree 
in eliminating partisan politics from public affairs in the municipalities 
which have adopted it. It is particularly successful in bringing about 
pi'ompt and efficient action in the public business of the community. 

THE MAYOR 

Upon the adoption of the connnission form of government by the 
Village and the election of Commissioners in 1911, D. A. Garber, who 
received the largest number of votes for Commissioner, was elected by 
the other Commissioners at their organization meeting as Mayor of the 
Village. Upon his re-election as Commissioner in 1915 he was again 
chosen as Mayor. 

The Mayor is the chief Executive officer of the Village and it is his 
duty to see that the ordinances of the Village are properly enforced. 

He is also the chief guardian of the peace of the Village. He has 
power to suppress riots and when necessary may call upon the county 
or state authorities for aid. 

As the titular head of the Village, the Mayor represents the munici- 
pality on public occasions. Because of his position the people look to 
him not only to safeguard tlie community's present intei-ests, but also 
to plan and to suggest such changes and improvements as will provide 
for their future civic welfare. 

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY 

Under the direction of the Mayor, this department protects the lives 
and the property of the citizens against vice, crime, and destruction. 
In performing its functions, it is divided into the following sub-depart- 
ments: Police, Fire, Board of Health, Shade Tree Commission, and 
Building Committee. 

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 

The functions of the police force are mainly, the enforcement of 
law, preservation of the peace, protection of life and ])i-operty, tlie 
arrest of all violators of the law, and the prevention and detection of 
crime. Other duties are incidental; but all must be performed with 
energy, discretion, promptness, and fidelity. 

It is the duty of the Police Department and every member of the 
force, at all times of the day or night, especially to preserve the peace, 
to prevent crime, and to detect and arrest offenders; to suppress riots, 
mobs, and insurrections ; to disperse unlawful or dangerous assemblages 
and crowds which obstruct the free passage of public streets, sidewalks, 
parks, or other places; to protect the rights of persons and property; 
to safeguard the public health; to preserve order at all meetings and 
assemblages; and to regulate and control the movements of all vehicles 
in the streets and public places. 

It is their duty also to remove all nuisances in the public streets, parks 

4G 



PAST AND PRESENT 



and highways ; to arrest all mendicants and beggars ; to provide proper 
police regulation at fires ; to assist, advise, and protect strangers and 
travelers on the public highways and at all railroad stations ; carefully 
to observe and to inspect all places of public amusement and places of 
business having licenses to carry on a particular business; to repress 
and restrain all unlawful and disorderly conduct or practices; to enforce 
the observance of all Village laws and ordinances; and for these pur- 
])Oses to arrest all persons guilty of violating any existing law or ordi- 
nance for the suppression or punishment of crimes or offences. 

During the early ninety's the citizens of Ridgewood were without 
adequate police protection and suffered to such an extent from I'obljeries 
that in consequence a number of citizens, headed by Joseph W. Edwards, 
formed an organization called the Village Protective Association. This 
Association held monthly meetings. Its members furnished not only 
the funds necessary to hire at first one man to do police patrol work 
and later others, but they were subject to call for purposes of protection 
when need arose. 

The first vq-A ])olice force was organized in 1802 and continued 
under the direction of tlie Village Protective Association until the Vil- 
lage Trustees took over their work. 

Peter Pulis was sworn in as a special officer on July 1, 1897. At 
that time the force included James E. Houlihan and James Ham- 
mond. On October 1, 1897, Mr. Pulis was appointed Chief of Police, 
and on October 31st the other two men were relieved from service. 
Chief Pulis continued as the only member of the force until March 1, 
1903, when two additional men were placed under his authority. Since 
that time the force has been gradually increased to a present member- 
ship of ten men, including a Police Clerk, first appointed on June 1, 
1909. 

During the latter part of 1915, the Commissioners, deeming it wise 
to place the dei)artment under a Superintendent of Police, selected for 
this office Rol)ert Oroves, for over thirty-two years a member of the 
Police Department of the City of New York and appointed him to the 
position to take office on January 1, 1916. Chief Pulis resigned his 
position on February 1, 1916. 

The force at present consists of a Superintendent of Police, one 
Sergennt, seven patrolmen, a clerk and a German shepherd police dog. 
Police dogs wei'c first used in Ridgewood in 1913. 

Ridgewood 's fii-st lock-up for law-l)reakers was in an old stone house 
]ocf)ted on tlie summit of tlie rise on the west side of the railroad tracks 
and south of tlie pi'csent Play House. Later a small wooden shack on 
Rock Avenue (now Broad Sti'eet) was erected and used for this purpose. 
In 1898. The Village Improvement Association, as a result of complaints 
regarding the conditions existing in the jail, which, when unoccupied, 
was used as a slielter for stray dogs, aroused the citizens to provide a 
new building which was erected just back of the present Municipal 
Building. This building was e(iui])ped under the supervision of the 
Humane Committee of the Association. Wlieii the ]\Iunici])al Building 
was built, rooms were provided in it for police headquarters and for the 
lock-up. 

47 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 
DUTIES 

The chief duty of the Fire Department is to extinguish fires. A 
xevy important secondary duty is the prevention of fires. Fire pre- 
vention is made effective in a variety of ways. A building code specifies 
certain principles of construction to which all new buildings must 
conform. Inspection of all buildings in process of construction insures 
observance of the building code regulations. Fire zone restrictions limit 
the use of wooden construction in the more thickly built up sections of 
the community. Periodic inspection is made of the buildings used for 
public gatherings with the result that the fire hazards are greatly re- 
duced. Further service is rendered by the Department by the assign- 
ment of firemen in uniform to attend public gatherings so that any 
emergency of fire or panic may be promptly and effectively handled. 

EARLY FIRES 

The history of the Fire Department of Ridgewood, like that of other 
departments of tlie community, is the story of a gradual development 
as the needs of the community have demanded increased service. 

Ridgewood in its existence as a municipality has suffered from only 
five serious fires. All occurred before the department was placed upon 
an efficient basis. 

The first fire of importance was the destruction in 1876 of the Ridge- 
wood Avenue Hotel, which stood on the site of the Rouclere House. 

On March 9, 1881, a fire, starting in a barn used by J. J. Bogert for 
the storage of hay and located just northwest of the present JMunicipal 
Building, destroyed the adjacent Franklin Hotel facing on Ridgewood 
Avenue. Sweeping west on Ridgewood Avenue, it also destroyed a 
blacksmith and wheelwright shop on the site of the present Ryerson 
Building. Continuing southward on Broad Street, it destroyed several 
small out-buildings and Whritnour and Colfax's store located on the site 
now occupied by the feed and grain building of E. B. Van Horn. The 
Masonic Hall of those days occupied the upper floor of Whritnour and 
Colfax's building. 

The next fii-c occurred in April, 1889. It started in a small building 
ill the rear of the Shuart Building, now the site of the Hutton Building. 
After destroying the Shuart Building, it consumed Crouter's Meat 
Market, adjoining, and two feed stores on Broad Street at the rear of 
the Zabriskie (now Moore) Building, which was also slightly damaged. 

A row of one-story stores, commencing at the present site of the 
Post Office on Prospect Street and continuing to the corner of Hudson 
Street, was destroyed hy fire on Marcli 11, 1899. 

The last fire of serious consequences occurred on March 21, 1900. 
It originated in a coal cellar in the rear of Tice's Drug Store located in 
tlie Pioneer Building (a three-story brick l)uilding) at the comer of 
Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut Street. It destroyed the Pioneer 
Building and the next two on Ridgewood Avenue, a three-story and a 
one-story frame structure. 

48 




GO 
GO 



oT 
o 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT 

The fire of 1881, followed by the one in 1889, aroused the citizens 
to discuss the need of better protection against fire. The only method 
of combating fire in vogue at that time was the volunteer bucket brigade. 

Some years later a meeting, on the evening of March 3, 1896, fruit- 
ful of results, was held in the Opera House. The meeting was attended 
by George E. Young, J. H. Christopher, I. E. Hutton, R. M. Bridgeman, 
Frank Baxter, Dr. Gr. Ockford, J. I. Bogert, E. A. Breusch, George 
Blauvelt, J. Houlihan and W. H. La Fetra. Committees were appointed 
to plan the organization of a fire department and to examine apparatus 
with a view to its purchase. 

Subsequent meetings were held and on March 25th an ordinance 
organizing a fire department was presented to the village trustees and 
Avas adopted by that body on May 13th. An appropriation of two 
thousand dollars was authorized at a General Election of the citizens 
held in April for the purchase of fire-fighting apparatus. The first 
Chief of the Department, Dr. Walter Van Emburgh, w^as appointed 
on October 7, 1896. 

The Department was formall}^ organized during the early part of 
January, 1897, as Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, with 
sixty-eight members enrolled. In 1905, the word "Protection" was 
dropped from its name and it has since been known as Hook and Ladder 
Company No. 1. 

Following the organization of the company, ])hins were discussed 
for a building properly to house the apparatus and to serve also as a 
meeting-place for the members. A contract for a tAvo-story building 
on the present site of the Municipal Building on Hudson Street was 
awarded on July 12, 1897, to George E. Ferguson. Its cost was 
twelve hundred and forty-six dollars. This building, when completed, 
served as the home of the company until the erection of the present 
]Municipal Building, when quarters Avere proA'ided for the company on 
the ground floor. 

During the folloAA'ing August, the first fire fighting apparatus Avas 
received. It consisted of a hand-draAAai hook and ladder truck equipped 
AA'ith ladders, buckets, and small tools. The AA'ater supply throughout 
the Village at that time Avas obtained from private wells. When a fire 
occurred, AA^ater Avas o])tained from the nearbj^ wells or streams. 

The first fire to AA'hich the department responded was in a barn in 
Glen Rock, OAAaied by J. W. EdAA-ards. The first fire attended by the 
department Avithin the Village AA^as in a house on Irving Street occupied 
hy a Mr. LaAA'rence. Despite the efforts of the firemen, the house AA-as 
destroyed. 

A second piece of apparatus, a hand-draAA^n Chemical Engine, Avas 
placed in commission by the Village on March 11, 1899. It is noAV 
held in reserA^e at the headquarters in case the present automobile ap- 
paratus is out of commission or a fire occurs which requires additional 
apparatus. 

A hand-pull fire alarm bell Avas purchased in the early part of 1898 
and installed in the Fire House on Hudson Street. It remained in 

50 



PAST AND PRESENT 



use there until superseded by the present Gamewell Alarm System. 
It was then moved to the quarters of Hose Company No. 1, and placed 
on a tower in the yard of C. A. Swarn, Kenilworth Place. Later the 
bell was moved to the Circle Avenue home of Hose Company No. 1, and 
afterwards equipped with an electric striker. The Gamewell bell was 
at first mounted in the tower of the Opera House (Town Hall) but was 
transferred to the roof of the Municipal Building when the latter was 
erected. 

Eagle Hose Company No. 1, was organized in January, 1900, as tlic 
result of agitation on the part of residents east of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. 
The first apparatus of this Company consisted of a carpenter's wagon 
filled with ladders, buckets and other fire-fighting tools. This company 
later dropped the word ''Eagle" from its name and has since been 
known as Hose Company No. 1. 

The apparatus of both companies in the early days was drawn to fires 
by hand or by teams that happened to be in the neighborhood of the 
fire stations when an alarm was sounded. 

Arrangements were made on March 20, 1900, with E. B. Van Horn 
to furnish a team on alarm for the use of Hook and Ladder Company 
No. 1. This arrangement continued until the Village purchased its own 
team to be used both by the Fire Department and by the Department 
of Streets. Hose Company No. 1 continued to use such teams as might 
be available for some time thereafter. Finally the Village furnished 
them witli a team which was also used by the Department of Streets. 

The installation of the Gamewell Fire Alarm System in July, 1900 
(the first alarm during its test being sent from Box 14), and the con- 
struction throughout the Village of a modern water-supply system 
(which was officially tested by the Fire Department for fire protection 
purposes on December 29, 1900) placed the Fire Department for the 
first time in a position where it could effectively combat the dangers 
of a serious conflagration. The department has since this time been 
able to confine all fires to the buildings in which they started. 

The officials of the department and of the Village have endeavored 
to keep the department equipped with modern apparatus. In 1908 the 
present Hook and Ladder Truck of Company No. 1 was purchased and 
put into connnission, and the original truck was sold. The present 
Automolnle Combination Chemical and Hose Car was purchased in 1912, 

The depai'tment, consisting entirely of volunteers, has always been 
known tliroughout the community for its efficiency and the high char- 
acter of its membership. 

Succeeding the first Chief of the Department, Dr. Walter Van Em- 
burgh, and in tlie order of their tenure of office, the Chiefs of the depart- 
ment have been: J. Calvin Bogert, Edwin Nickerson, D. J. O'Neill, Dr. 
J. B. Hopper, George W. Courter, and the present incumbent, H. A. 
Tiee, who was appointed on March 2, 1915. 

PRESENT ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT 

The department now consists of a Chief, H. A. Tice, two assistants, 
Wm. Van Dien and Jesse Van Wagenen, a Superintendent of Fire 

51 



RIDGEWOOI), BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Alarm Telegraph, two Captains, two Lieutenants, and twenty-four men. 

The department headquarters and Hook and Ladder Company No. 
1, are located on Hudson Street in the Municipal Building; while Hose 
Company No. 1 is located on Circle Avenue. 

The equipment of the department consists of one Locomobile, single 
tank combination chemical and hose automobile ; one double tank horse- 
drawn chemical engine; one horse-drawn hook and ladder truck; two 
hose wagons and four horses ; and the necessary working equipment. 

The fire alarm system is under the supervision of Frank A. Harrison, 
Superintendent of Fire Alarm Telegraph, and consists of twenty-eight 
fire alarm street boxes, five special boxes located in schools, twent3^-two 
miles of hard-drawn copper wire, one two-thousand pound bell in the 
Municipal Building, and one one-thousand pound bell in the Circle 
Avenue house, with automatic strike attachments, indicators, and 
tappers where required. 

There are one hundred and thirty-six public hydrants and five private 
hydrants in use for fire purposes. 

THE BOARD OF HEALTH 

The Board of Health is charged with the responsibility of protecting 
the health of the citizens, and is empowered to make rules and regula- 
tions, such as do not conflict witli those of the State Board of Health, 
to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, and to take such other- 
steps as may be deemed necessary to protect and conserve the health 
of the community. 

The records show that a Board of Health Avas established by the 
Village Trustees on Julj^ 15, 1895, though its members were not at 
once appointed. As a matter of fact, safeguarding the health of our 
Village was considered within the province of duties of the Board of 
Trustees, who thus constituted themselves a Board of Health. The 
history of tlie Board of Health, therefore, is the history of the Village 
Trustees until February 1, 1906, wlien the first recorded meeting of 
a separate body was held for the pur]iose of organization. 

During this time, however, The Village Improvement Association, 
through its Sanitary Committee, investigated complaints regarding the 
sanitary conditions of the Village and became active in related duties. 
This committee was notably successful in ending the practice of dump- 
ing garbage, ashes, and other refuse indiscriminately, and, in 1897, 
it established a regular service for the collection of garbage and ashes, 
the supervision of which Avas assumed by the Village officials in 1903. 

Through the efforts of The Village Improvement Association, in 
1897. an unsanitary opcTi ditch, which ran between Ridgewood and 
Franklin Avenue.s from a ])()int near Broad Street to the Ho-Ho-Kus 
Brook, was filled in. 

In 1900 it established the practice of ])lacing signs upon all homes 
which held cases of infectious disease. 

The first Board of Health consisted of tlie following members: 
President, Frederick "W. Gardner; Secretarv, Dr. John T. Hanks; Dr. 
H. A. Willard, Dr. John B. Hopper, and Wm. IT. IVIoore. Dr. C. A. 
DeMund was appointed Health Officer, "VVm. II. JMoore, Plumbing In- 

52 



PAST ANjy PRESENT 



spector, and J. Blauvelt Hopper, Registrar of Vital Statistics. These 
officials met once a luoiith in the old Fire House until tlic following 
June, when the Board began holding two, and sometimes more, meet- 
ings a month. By-laAvs wei'c adopted February' (i, ]9Q6, Avhen J. Blau- 
velt Hopper was appointed Clerk. On Marcli (ith of the same year, 
Judge David D. Zal)riskic w;is made Counsel to the Board; in August, 
Geoi'ge H. Soult took the office of riumbing lnsi)cctor, in place of 
Mv. Moore; and in October, Dr. H. H. Fettit became Health Officer, 
superseding Dr. DeMund. John B. Zabriskie was appointed Counsel 
in January, 1907, succeeding Judge David D. Zabriskie. On May 7, 
1907, owing to the death of Mr. Gardner, Edward T. White was 
appointed a member of the Board, and Dr. Hopper was elected Presi- 
dent. On January 5, 1910, Mr. White became President. 

The first garbage and ash collector was J. I. Van Blareom, who 
was appointed in February, 1906. Dr. Hopper superseded him in 
June, 1907, and upon his retirement in November of the same year, 
tlie Faber brothers, who operated the Ridgewood Disposal Works, 
were granted a license to carry on the garbage and ash collection work. 

The Board moved into the old Wilsey Building in November, 1908. 
In Fe])ruary, 1909, Mr. Soult became Registrar of Vital Statistics, 
succeeding Mr. Hopper. On March 16, 1910, Doctors W. L. Vroom 
and C. A. DeMund were appointed members of the Board, taking the 
places of Doctors Hopper and Willard, while Clarence A. Demarest 
was appointed Clerk. 

The first ordinance passed by this Board June 27, 1906, was that 
I'elating to nuisances, privy vaults, and cesspools; scavengers, conta- 
gious diseases, burials, etc. This ordinance is still in force, with an 
added amendment regarding scavengers, made effective in 1908. Before 
this, however, in jNIarch, 1904, the Village Trustees enacted Ordinance 
No. 54. This dealt wdth rules and regulations relating to plumbing, 
water supply, and ventilation of buildings. It was superseded in June 
of last year, how^ever, by the present Plumbing Code. In 1907, the 
Board passed an ordinance dealing with proper sewer connections of 
houses and other buildings ; and in 1908, an ordinance was passed 
I'cgulating the handling and sale of milk. This was supplemented in 
1910 by a provision for the licensing of persons, corporations, or asso- 
ciations of persons to deal in milk. In 1909, the Board enacted an 
ordinance directing the elimination of breeding-places of mosquitoes ; 
and in 1911 one regulating proper care and cleaning of stables and 
the disposition of manure. 

In 1909, with the financial help of a few public-spirited citizens, 
the services of a visiting nurse were secured for a short period, in 
a laudable effoi't to foster, by instruction in improved methods of house 
care, better living conditions in certain of our homes. The formation 
of the Ridgewood Relief Society was a direct result of this effort. 

In the Spring of 1910, a plan for the regular inspection of dairy 
premises was adopted with the set purpose of inculcating and enforc- 
ing among the dairymen modern and efficient dairy methods in the 
production of high-grade milk. From time to time, samples of milk 
from the local dealers have been procured by tlie Board for analyses, 

53 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

This requirement has liad a salutary effect, and consequently high 
standards have been ensured and maintained. It is satisfactory to 
report that in a recent statement issued by the Division of Creameries 
and Dairies of the State Board, the condition of the Ridgewood dairies 
was declared as tlie best in the State. In addition to the supervisions 
of the local Board, a plan was arranged in 1913 with the State Board 
to have its inspectors make occasional visits to Ridgewood. 

The Board has always kept in close touch with the Village water 
conditions. One of its accomplishments has been the installation of 
a regular system of tests. 

The work of exterminating the mosquito has been carried on in 
a vigorous manner for several years. Oil has been spread on all 
stagnant water and in the lowlands, while many breeding places have 
been drained and filled. During the past year the work has been 
supplemented by the Bergen County Mosquito Extermination Com- 
mission, the representatives of which, in addition to much valuable 
work, have inspected and charted every foot of ground in the Village. 

In May, 1910, the Board moved into the Trust Company Building, 
but later, in June, 1911, was installed in its present office in the 
Municipal Building. (.)n August 9, 1911, George B. Richardson was 
appointed Sanitary Inspector in the place of Mr. Soult. Mr. Moore, 
however, temporarily acted in this capacity for a short season. 

With the change in Village Government, in December, 1911, the 
entire Board automatically went out of office, and the Commissioners 
appointed a new Board naming Edward T. White as President, Dr. 
W. L. Vroom as Secretary-Treasurer, the other members being Edward 
S. Brower, John Harmon, and Robert W. Muns. These, with Health 
Officer Pettit, Inspector Murphy, Clerk Demarest, and Registrar Morris, 
constitute the present Village Health organization. Until the appoint- 
ment of John J. Murphy, Frank Stevens acted as Registrar of Vital 
Statistics. When Wilbur Morris was appointed Village Clerk in Feb- 
ruary, 1912, he also assumed the title and duties of Registrar. Mr. 
Richardson, owing to the provisions of the Walsh Act, could not legally 
serve as Inspector and was made Deputy Health Officer, his duties 
combining that of Inspector. Subsequently, Inspector Robert B. 
Murphy, the present incumbent, was appointed and took office Jan- 
uary 2, 1912. 

In 1912, Joseph Houlihan was appointed Deputy Inspector for 
several weeks to examine conditions in the Village pertaining to out- 
houses, stables, sewer connections, breeding-places for mosquitoes, etc. 
He reported 72 outside privies and 73 violations of the manure 
ordinance. 

Consideration of the control of contagious diseases in the schools 
and churches was jointly taken up by the School Board and the Ridge- 
wood Medical Society in 1912, and, after numerous conferences, rules 
and regulations were formulated which greatly improved the quarantine 
system. 

During 1913, the Board instituted inspections of all local ice-cream 
factories and noted the sanitary conditions of the Village stores. 
Licensed vendors were also placed under inspection. 

54 



PAST AND PRESENT 



111 1914, the new State Law restrictions required an examination 
for glanders of all horses removing into New York State. To comply 
with this regulation, over 200 horses were examined, but no trace of 
the disease was found. 

In April, 1915, what might have proved a severe epidemic of scarlet 
fever was checked by the prompt action of the Board in closing certain 
of the public schools, Sunday-schools, and other places where children 
congregated. 

In jNIay of the same year the Board, with the aid of the Women's 
Club and the Boy Scouts, inaugurated a vigorous anti-fly campaign. 
Mr, J. E. Coyle, of the Boy Scouts, was appointed a temporary Special 
Inspector, with the boys as his active assistants. 

Early in the present year an epidemic of measles broke out which 
became a cause of considerable concern on the part of the Board. A 
rigid enforcement of the quarantine, however, proved effective in 
holding it within bounds. Owing to the inconveniences and possible 
distress imposed on families of patients by long periods of quarantine, 
and to accord with the custom adopted in other representative muni- 
cipalities, the exclusion period from school was reduced to fourteen 
days. 

On July 8, 1916, a special meeting was held to devise methods 
to prevent the spread to Ridgewood of the infantile-paralysis epidemic 
then raging in New York. As a means to this end the Sunday-schools, 
the Y. M. C. A., and Play House were closed to children under sixteen, 
and numerous other measures were taken, which proved effective. Since 
then a joint meeting has been held in Ridgewood of the Boards of 
Health of Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Ho-ho-kus, and Midland Park, to 
discuss ways and means of preventing a spread of the disease. As 
a result all visiting children were detained, while those from infected 
districts were quarantined for observation for a period of two weeks. 
A discussion of the County Isolation Hospital followed, and a joint 
resolution was submitted to the Freeholders urging its early comple- 
tion. It is hoped that the hospital, as well as the proposed co-oper- 
ative laboratory, will become acquisitions of the very near future. 

THE SHADE TREE COMMISSION 

The first shade trees that were planted along the highways in 
Ridgewood are located on Maple Avenue and extend north about one- 
half mile from Ridgewood Avenue. They were set out during the 
early sixties along their properties on both sides of the street by 
Captain Samuel Dayton, Samuel Graydon, B. F. Robinson, A. J. 
Cameron, A. J. Zabriskie and Richard Van Dien. 

A large number of trees were given to the Village in 1880 by 
I. W. England and were set out under the direction of J. W. Ed- 
wards and B. F. Robinson. 

The first organized effort for the improvement of the public grounds 
Avas made in 1897, when The Village Improvement Association caused 
the grounds surrounding the Oi)era House to be plowed, grass-seed 
sowed, and a number of bushes planted. The association continued 
to care for the grounds for a number of years. Through their efforts 

55 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

the Erie Railroad officials in 1901 gave flowers for beds and placed 
benches near the station. It Avas due to their efforts also that in 1897 
all signs and advertisements were removed from trees and rocks in 
conspicuous places throughout the Village. 

As the result of further efforts of The Village Improvement 
Association, individual property owners in 1!)01 furnished approxi- 
mately two hundred trees and set out the i)resent silver maple trees 
on Godwin Avenue as far as ]M el rose Place, on Franklin Avenue from 
Monroe Street to the railroad tracks, and along Ridgewood Avenue 
from the railroad tracks to Nortli Pleasant Avenue. 

Until the establishment of the first Shade Tree Commission no 
further organized effort was made by the citizens, although numerous 
trees were set out from time to time by individual property owners. 

THE COMMISSION 

New Jersey, as well as Pennsylvania, jMassachusetts and other 
States has, by statute, made ))road provisions for the care and plant- 
ing of shade trees on the highways. Under these laws, in January, 
1909, Ridgewood 's first Shade Tree Commission was appointed. Its 
members w^ei-e I. E. Hutton, Chairman, Maurice Pornachon and T. J. 
Poster. P. R. Meier was made Secretary. Soon after its organization, 
Mr. Pornachon removed from the Village and was succeeded hy George 
H. Stevens. 

The present Commission consists of W. H. Maier, Chairman, Louis 
Chable, Secretary, and A. C. Brooks. Samuel D. Graydon is Super- 
intendent. Mr. Graydon has also served as a member of the Com- 
mission, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the 
resignation of the former Commissioner J. H. Birch. 

The Connnission has followed a systematic plan of planting trees 
along all our streets; of caring properly for the thousands of street 
and park trees that jjcautify the Village; and of removing dead and 
undesirable trees. 

STATUTE 

To the jurisdiction of the Shade Tree Commission is committed 
by statute the planting, setting out, maintenance, protection, and care 
of the shade trees in the public higliways of tlie Village ; and also 
the management, maintenance, improvement, repair, and control of 
the pul)lic parks belonging to the Village. 

STREET WORK 

In the discharge of their duties the Shade Tree Commissioners may 
tentatively decide to i)lant trees along certain streets or parts of 
streets. The statute requires that notice of such intention to plant 
be advertised once in a village newspaper at least twenty days before 
a public hearing at which the final decision is made ; or at least ten 
days before the hearing such notice may be served personally upon 
any owner of real estate in front of whose property it is proposed 
to plant or remove a tree. This advertisement or notice announces 
the intention to plant, and gives the date and hour of the meeting 

56 



PAST AND PRESENT 



at which final decision is to be made. At this meeting a careful hear- 
ing is given to all suggestions and objections, and such changes as 
then seem advisable are made in the proposed plan. 

I'r>ANTING 

During tlie past four years there were set out by and under the 
autliority of the Commission the following trees, along about eight 
miles of streets: — 

>\or\vay maples 892 

Jied oaks 153 

Oriental planes 140 

Pin oaks 92 

iScarlet oaks 41 

Crimean linden 35 

Tulip 35 

European linden 18 

Licpiidamliai- 12 

Ailantlius 7 

Lomhajdy ])opla7s ; . 3 

Suj^ar maples 2 

1,430 

Of tliese about oO trees were re])luccments. The number of new trees 
planted by the Shade Tree Commission within these four years is 
therefore about 1400. 

The thoughtful citizen will realize and appreciate what an increas- 
ingly valuable asset these trees will become to the Village and how 
great a part they will play in making our "Ridgewood Beautiful". 

The cost of statutory planting (that is, planting done under the 
authority of the statute creating Shade Tree Commissions) is assessed 
against the properties benefited and is entered upon the tax bill. Once 
paid, such an assessment does not recur, as the cost of any replace- 
ments of these plantings is borne by the Commission. Tree planting 
done by request is charged for at the time of the planting. 

CARE 

The proper care of the trees is a matter of labor and of expense 
tliat is proportionately increased with each year's planting of addi- 
tional trees. 

The soil about the trees must be kept by cultivation or mulching 
in such condition as to conserve the moisture, to protect the roots and 
base from Avinter's harmful effects, and to add plant food to the soil. 
In times of drought the trees must be watered. At regular intervals 
the trees must be sprayed. 

Defective or irregular branches must l)e pruned, cavities must be 
cleansed, and branches that grow so low as to interfere with pedes- 
trians on sidewalks or Avith vehicles on the streets must be removed. 
In zealously performing its duties, the Commission finds its reward 
in adding to the comfort of the public and in increasing the beauty 
of the Village. 

57 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

PAEKS 

The Commission has recently set out a number of trees in Linwood 
Park, established in 1910. It has also the care of the trees on the 
land acquired by the Village for a Parkway along the Ho-Ho-Kus 
Brook. This Parkway was begun as the result of an investigation in 
1908 by the civic improvement expert, Mr. Charles Mulford Rob- 
inson. When completed, it will be one of the most beautiful and 
attractive features of the Village. 

STATION PLAZA 

The Commission has recently been responsible, under an arrange- 
ment with the contractors, for the laying out and planting of the trees 
and shrubbery in the new station improvements, 

THE BUILDING COMMITTEE 

In order to safeguard the citizens against imperfect and unsafe 
building structures and to reduce to a minimum the fire hazards of 
the Village, the Board of Commissioners adopted, on the 25th of Feb- 
ruary, 1913, a building code which regulates and controls the con- 
struction, alteration, and repair of all buildings in the Village, and 
which provides for a Building Committee of not less than three, a 
Superintendent of Buildings, and an Inspector of Buildings, who are 
charged with the duty of seeing that the ordinances are strictly en- 
forced. 

The Building Committee consists of the three Village Commis- 
sioners. Mr. F. W. Simonds, the Village Engineer, is Superinten- 
dent and Inspector of Buildings. 

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND FINANCE 

As its name implies, this department has to do with the entire 
handling of the receipts and expenditures of the municipality that 
has adopted the commission form of government. The laws of the 
State, however, particularly except the finances of the Board of Edu- 
cation from this control. Money for education is raised by taxation, 
like all the rest of the Village moneys, but it is paid over to the Board 
of Education for expenditure under their own control and accounting. 

In January of each year the Board of Commissioners prepare a 
budget of the money which in their judgment is required to run the 
Village. This budget is adopted finally in July. The Assessor is then 
given the amount required and it is then his Ijusiness to raise by tax- 
ation the money asked for. The appropriations for the Board of 
Education in Ridgewood are voted by the taxpayers at a special elec- 
tion called for this purpose. The budget prepared by the Board of 
Commissioners is not submitted to the voters for their approval. 

The money required to run a municipality is spent before it is 
received; in other words, the revenue from taxes paid in December 
of each year is used to pay the expenses of that year : thus the Village 
is forced to borrow money in anticipation of taxes. 

58 



PAST AND PRESENT 



When Ridgewood adopted Commission Goverimient, the department 
of revenue and finance established a proper system of bookkeeping. 
Each year it is required to have a complete audit made of all books 
and vouchers. 

Mr. George U. AVhite is the present Commissioner acting as the 
head of the department, a position Avhieh he has held since its estab- 
lishment in 1911. 



DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, PARKS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY 

Physical Improvements 

The first sidewalk "laid" in Ridgewood was a substantial one of 
wood and was built by the firm of Zabriskie & Hawes in the early 
70 's. This sidewalk ran from the corner of Ridgewood and Broad 
Streets, south on Broad Street and turning the corner of Dayton 
Street it continued to and across Prospect Street to the residence of 
Mr. Hawes, which was located in an open meadow and now stands 
on Dayton Street opposite the Reformed Church. The ' ' tide of travel ' ' 
quickly turned from Prospect Street to the station through the mud 
and the sidewalk w^as worn out by the general public or burned for 
kindling wood. Mr. Joseph W. Edwards and other residents at this 
lime also laid wooden sidewalks along their properties whicli were all 
later superseded by stone walks. 

Up to about 1880 no organized attempt had been made to improve 
tlie sanitary conditions of the Village. About that time one of our 
citizens felt that conditions threatened a serious epidemic of typhoid 
fever. The section between Broad and Prospect Streets, composed of 
bog and thickets of brush, was like a swamp on a hill. The cesspools 
and the wells kept at about the same level. The danger of inter- 
communication was apparent. Then occurred the first concentrated 
effort to better the conditions. Two owners of considerable property 
in that section planned to improve its value. A drain about five feet 
deep had previously been run through Broad and Hudson Streets 
across Prospect Street and through the Opera House site to Ridge- 
wood Avenue and Oak Street, draining into a bog on the north side 
of Ridgewood Avenue to the region of the present Franklin Avenue 
and beyond, into an area afterAvards occupied hj the lumber yards 
of 6. G. Van Dien. It was proposed to dig this drain to a depth of 
twelve or fifteen feet. This was done, and a cutting was made through 
the hard-pan that formed the bed and the rim of the basin of the 
SAvamp. Immediately the Avater in the Avells dropped ten feet in level ; 
its quality Avas changed and the danger that threatened the settlement 
was a\^erted. Hundreds of cart-loads of dirt Avere afterAvards dumped 
into the RidgcAA^ood-Franklin Avenue bog until it disappeared. 

Attention began noAv to be given to a better organization of the 
Avork of maintenance and improvement of the roads. All road Avork 
had been handled without any system. The "Path Master" might 
spend quite a sum of money on certain portions of the road, only to 
have his Avork undone hy his successor, Avho had other ideas of im- 

59 



RIDGEWOOB, BERGEN COVXTY, NEW JERSEY 

provement. Under such a system, consistent progress was impossible. 
Following the efforts of John A. Marinus, however, a i)hin was adopted 
of employing an engineer who should direct all work to the accom- 
plishment of a fixed and unchanging purpose. 

Later, through the persistent efforts of Isaac E. llutton, llidge- 
wood Avenue was graded, with a cut of about ten feet at Irving Street, 
and with the consecpient result that the surface water was drained 
naturally to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. 

The people of the Village have made constant progress in improv- 
ing the roads and streets. In 1866 the first Village streets were laid 
out. In 1888 the principal streets were macadamized. As a pioneer of 
macadamized roads the Village made expenditure in 1892 of $30,000, 
and made its streets second to none in the State. The permanent 
improvement of Maple Avenue during 1915, and the laying of brick 
pavement in the streets about the railroad station in 1914 and 1916, 
are described elsewhere in this book. 

Estahlishment of Department 

Previous to the establislnnent of an organized department of the 
Village to care for such matters, The Village Improvement Associa- 
tion, through its Street Committee, in 1898, inaugurated the use of 
receptacles for the disposition of rubbish on the Village streets. Six 
receptacles were placed on the street corners of the main thoroughfare. 

During the same year the association was instrumental in securing 
the passage of an ordinance preventing store sweepings from being 
emptied upon the sidewalks and into the streets. In 1901 the asso- 
ciation engaged a man to sweep the main street of the Village two 
days a week, and later started the street sprinkling system. 

With the adoption in 1911 of Commission Government, the Depart- 
ment of Public Improvements, Parks and Public Property was estab- 
lished, first under the direction of Commissioner Frederick Pfeiffer, 
and upon the expiration of his term of office in 1915, under the direc- 
tion of the neAV Commissioner, Dr. J. B. Hopper. Mr. F. W. Simonds 
is Village Engineer and Mr. J. D. Carlock is Superintendent of Streets 
and Sewers. 

This department is responsible for the maintenance of all Village 
streets, of storm and sanitary sewers and of the sewage pumping 
plants and disposal system. It plans and constructs all new streets, 
sewers, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, when laid out and built by the 
Village. It attends to the purchase of all supplies and materials 
used in its work. It controls the Village yard and railroad spur on 
Chestnut Street. It has a steam-roller and seven horses for use in 
its work, four of the horses being ^^sed also for hauling the fire appa- 
ratus when called to fires. An automobile is furnished the Superin- 
tendent of Streets for use in connection with his duties. 

The department is also responsible for the construction of all build- 
ings, in accordance with the ])rovisions of the building code, and for 
the care of parks and public propei'ty other than that assigned to 
another particular dei)artment. 

CO 



PAST AND PRESENT 



The Village Engineer 

The Village Engineer has active charge of the department and 
makes periodical reports to the Connnissioner directing the depart- 
ment. He makes surveys and investigations; he designs all construc- 
tion work and draws the necessary specifications; he is responsible 
for all contract work done for the Village and keeps a record of ex- 
penditures of the department classified so as to show actual and unit 
costs for all work done l)y the Village. 

The Superintendent of Streets and Sewers 

The Superintendent of Streets and Sewers reports to the Village 
Engineer and acts as the immediate head of all employes in the de- 
partment. He is responsible for the carrying out of all work done 
by the Village in accordance with his specific instructions. 

Setver System 

The department has in its care approximately nineteen miles of 
sewer pipe and two sewer plants, one located on the west side, which 
acts as a pumping station, and another on the east side, constructed 
in 1903, which contains a large septic tank to which the pipe system 
first conducts the sewage. Here the bulk of the organic matter is 
precipitated and retained. It is then subjected to a bacterial action, 
which disintegrates and consumes it. The overflow of water is con- 
ducted to filter beds of coke covered with crushed stone. It is there 
purified and is then discharged into a stream running from the Village. 

Sixty-one flush tanks have been installed at the dead ends of sewers. 
Once every twenty-four hours they automatically fiusli the sewer lines 
to which they are connected. 

The cost of maintaining the sewage system, including wages of two 
men on day and two on night duty, expenditure for electric ])owcr 
at the pumping station, and expenses of repairs and up-keep of both 
plants, amounts approximately to $1.00 per inhabitant per year. 

ADVISORY BOARD 

With the establishment of the Commission form of Government in 
1911, the newly elected Commissioners deemed it to be in keeping 
with the spirit of that form of government to invite the formation 
of a body of citizens into an Advisory Board who would meet with 
the Commissioners from time to time for the discussion of problems 
of public interest and their best mode of solution. 

The present Boai'd consists of George F. Brackett. De Witt Clinton, 
Jr.. T. J. Foster, W. J. Fullerton, Bavlv Hipkins, Frederick Pfeiffer. 
Franz Schwartz, J. H. Snyder, S. S. Walstrum, If. G. White, and 
.7. D. Van Em])urgh. Wliile this Advisory Board has no legal standing 
in the government of the Village, the oi)inions and counsel of its 
members are of great A'alue, not only to the Commissioners in deter- 
mining the policies to be pursued in public affairs, but also to every 
citizen of "Ridgewood, who profits by a Avise and efficient administra- 
tion of the public l)usiness. 

61 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 

The administration of justice, through the courts of law, is one 
of the most solemn and important exercises of the powers of govern- 
ment. The government which we have adopted in this country by 
the free choice of the people is based upon the absolute independence 
of the judicial department. The courts stand for the protection of 
rights, for the redressing of wrongs, for the punishment of crime. 
They are the great safeguards of the freedom of the people; hence 
we clothe these institutions with dignity and invest them with im- 
pressive formalities that they may be duly granted the respect and 
obedience which are due their exalted prerogatives and powers. 

The judicial functions of the Village of Ridgewood are performed 
by three courts: The Court of Common Pleas, located in Hackensack 
and commonly known as the County Court; the District Court of 
Ridgewood, and the Recorders' Court. 

Court of Common Pleas 

Baron Van der Cappellen established a Court of Union Hill for 
the purpose of settling differences between the Indians and white set- 
tlers. The exact date of its institution has never been ascertained. 

In 1655 Adrian Post was appointed by Van der Cappellen as his 
deputy to ''treat with the Hackensack Indians for the release of pris- 
oners"; later, in 1657, a treaty was made with the Indians, through 
another deputy. Van Dincklogen, which provided, among other things, 
for the "submission of disputed matters to the Coui'ts of Justice at 
Hospating, near Hackensack." 

For nine years, from 1652 to 1661, and possibly longer, the Court 
of Burgomasters and Schepens exercised active operation. A local 
Court, consisting of a Sellout (presiding judge) and three SeJiepens, 
or magistrates, was established at Bergen in September, 1661. This 
Court had civil and criminal jurisdiction, and any appeal from its 
decisions was made to the Director-General and Counsel at IManhattan. 

In 1683 the twenty-four proprietors responsible for "The Fun- 
damental Constitutions for the Province of East New Jersey in Amer- 
ica," decreed that neither "justice nor right should be bought or sold" 
and that "all tryals should be by twelve men, and, as near as it may 
be, peers and equals"; also that "in cases of life there shall be at 
first twenty-four returned by the sheriff for a grand inquest". It 
thus appears that our present jury system (grand and petit) was 
securely established at that early period in the history of American 
jurisprudence. Indeed it has been practically maintained without 
serious change, notwithstanding the constantly changing influences 
affecting the life of the people. 

On May 14, 1688, an Act, passed by the General Assembly con- 
vened at Perth Amboy, provided for a "Court for Trial of Small 
Causes". This Court was to be held monthly at the house of Law- 
rence Andi'iss at New Hackensack, the name by which the settlement 
on the west side of the Hackensack River was then known, the terri- 
tory on the east side of the river being distinguished as "Old Haek- 

62 



PAST AND PRESENT 



ensack", A similar Court convened at the house of Dr. Johannes, on 
the Haekensack River. 

Prior to 1709 Bergen County did not include within its boundaries 
the territory west of the Hackensack River. In that year the lines 
of the county were extended, and the county lying west of the Hack- 
ensack River admitted. The Village of Hackensack became the County 
seat, and there the first Court house was built. This edifice stood on 
"The Green", near Main Street. It was destroyed by the British 
in 1780. 

In 1704 tlie Supreme Court of this State Avas established by Lord 
Cornbury. 

The second Court house and a jail were built in Youghpough, in 
Franklin Township, during the Revolution. 

The third Court house of Bergen County, the first after the Rev- 
olution, was built at Hackensack, near Main Street, on property which 
later belonged to Richard Paul Terhune. A clerk's office was built 
about 1812 on the west side of Main Street, north of the Susquehanna 
Railroad, and remained until 1853. In 1819 tlie fourth Court house 
was built on property deeded by Robert Campbell. It was enlarged 
several times, and in 1892 was reconstructed. 

On July 6, 1910, was laid the corner-stone of the present County 
Court House on Main Street, Hackensack. 

The administrative system of Common Law reaching down to us 
from colonial times, had its origin in the Common Law of England. 
Though modifications in forms and in practice are made from time 
to time to meet the requirements of modern changing conditions, yet 
the fundamental principles of the law, founded as they are on inherent 
rights, continue substantially unchanged from generation to generation. 
The tendency of our day is toward simplification of pleadings and 
practice. In the place of the dozen judges formerly required as essen- 
tial to rule our County Court a single judge now presides with marked 
efficiency. 

In the earlier days most of the judges officiating in the Court of 
Common Pleas were not lawyers, but for man.y years it has been the 
invariable custom to select. the presiding judge from the ranks of men 
who have taken their legal degree. 

Ridgewood has had the honor of representation on the bench of 
this Court when Honorable David D. Zabriskie served as its judge 
from 1898 to 1908. 

District Court 

The District Court ranks as one of Ridgewood 's most useful insti- 
tutions. It has jurisdiction over the whole of Bergen County and 
supersedes the "ancient and honorable" Court of Justice of the Peace. 

There are three District Courts for the County, and these have 
their court rooms located as follows: 

First District in the City of Englewood; Second District in the 
Borougli of Rutherford; Thii'd District in the villages of Hackensack 
and Ridgewood. 

63 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The judges of these Courts frequently exchange courtesies by hold- 
ing court for one another. As the reader is, naturally, interested more 
particularly in what concerns Ridgewood, the Third District Court 
only will be referred to. 

This Court was created by an Act of the Legislature of this State 
entitled "An Act to incorporate the Third Judicial District of the 
County of Bergen". This was passed April 11, 1908, and took effect 
January 1, 1909. 

The territory assigned to the jurisdiction of this Court, as defined 
by the Act creating it, embraces that portion of Bergen County reach- 
ing from New York State line on the north to Garfield and Rutherford 
on the south, and from the Hackensack River on the east to the Passaic 
County line on the west. 

With a view of avoiding possible inconvenience and annoyance that 
the extensive population over this wide territory might be subjected 
to, the Legislature decreed that Court should be held in two different 
places in this District. Hackensack and Ridgewood were thus chosen. 

The Court has commodious court rooms in the County Court House 
at Hackensack and in the Trust Company Building at Ridgewood. 
At first the Ridgewood Court held its sessions in Prospect Hall but 
two years later moved to its present quarters. 

Tlie regular Court days are : Tuesday in Ridgewood ; Friday in 
Hackensack. Special days for jury trials are set by the judge. 

Judge Cornelius Doremus was the first judge to hold this Court. 
He was appointed by Governor Fort on January 18, 1909, to serve 
for a term of five years. He occupied the bench for the full term, 
and was succeeded by Judge Peter W. Stagg, the present incumbent. 

The Court has civil jurisdiction only. Criminal cases are tried 
elsewhere. 

It is a busy Court; each session lists a long calendar of landloi'd 
and tenant cases, actions for breach of contract, accident suits, actions 
to enforce ordinances, and similar actions other than those involving 
offenses against criminal laws, and equity cases. It is essentially wliat 
is popularly described as ''The People's Court". Its sessions con- 
tinue the year round and by its expeditious trial of cases at a mini- 
mum of cost to litigants, has Avell deserved its popular title. 

Its reputation and importance are fui'ther evidenced by the large 
volume of business brought to it. The majority of the cases are tried 
by the judge without a jury. The court opens promptly at 9 :30 in 
the forenoon and continues in session until all cases marked ''ready" 
are disposed of. Frequently a court day lasts until six o'clock, often 
later. 

The Court officials consist of a judge, clerk, assistant clerk, ser- 
geant-at-arms, and stenographer. Judson B. Salisbury of Ridgewood 
has acted as clerk of the Court almost since its organization. 

The old saying, "The Law's Delay", has no application to this 
particular Court. LTsually not more than two weeks are occupied from 
the presentation of a case to the rendering of a decision. There are 
sixteen fixed rules governing the Court's procedure, besides the "Gen- 
eral Rules of Practise" fixed by the statutes of the State. 

64 



PAST AND PRESENT 



During the first five years of the existence of the Court, upward 
of six thousand suits were introduced and disposed of in Hackensack 
and Kidgewood, and not one per cent of these were appealed to the 
Supreme Court. 

The Court is already well advanced in its second five-year term. 
"The Court of the People" is one of the institutions of which Ridge- 
wood is justly proud. 

Recorder's Court 

This Court was established by the Village Commissioners on April 
28, 1914, under the authority conferred upon them by an act of the 
Legislature of the State of New Jersey entitled "A supplement to an 
act — An Act for the formation and government of Villages — approved 
February 23rd, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-one", ap- 
proved March 26, 1914. 

The act provides that "Such recorder shall have the same juris- 
diction, power, and authority in criminal matters, affiliation proceed- 
ings, relief, removal and settlement of the poor, breaches of the peace, 
vagrancy and disorderly conduct, and violation of the municipal or- 
dinances, as are now conferred upon justices of peace in this State". 

On the date first mentioned the Village Commissioners appointed 
Frederick V. Watson, Counsellor-at-Law of the State of New Jersey, 
practising in this Village, as its recorder for a term of four years. 
Prior to the institution of this Court recorder's duties were exercised 
by justices of peace, who were elected by the people by popular vote. 
Dr. George M. Ockford, the present Village Postmaster, then a justice 
of peace, formerly acted in this capacity for this community. 

The Recorder's Court has jurisdiction in all matters specifically 
conferred by statute, other than the above mentioned, notably for 
violations of the laws applying to the use and operation of motor 
vehicles. 

The Recorder is also a peace officer. He has the power to commit 
to the county jail, to await the action of the prosecutor as to admission 
to bail or retention in such county jail, all persons charged with any 
serious violation of the criminal statutes of this State. Since persons 
charged can waive such hearing if they so desire and be committed 
forthwith, or they may make a statement, the recorder's duty requires 
him to investigate whether or not they have committed the breach of 
the criminal statute charged. Should he find reasonable grounds for 
assuming that they have committed such violation, it is his dutv to 
commit them forthwith, and rest the final outcome upon the decision 
of the prosecutor and the grand jury of the county. 

Bar of Ridgewood 

The story of the judicial institutions in which the citizens of Ridge- 
w^ood are interested would be incomnletc without at least some refer- 
ence to those of the legal profession who have, at various times, 
represented our residents in the Courts. 

As in other activities of the community, the legal business of the citi- 
zens was taken care of by lam^ers having offices in nearby communities, 

65 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN, COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

principally in Hackensack, where the County Court had been estab- 
lished and which offered an attractive sphere for their calling. 

The increase in population and the growth of the community in 
the last years have brought a number of the legal profession to the 
Village. While a few of these maintain offices in Hackensack and 
New York City, those who have offices in the Village at the present 
time, are the following. The year recorded after each name respec- 
tively indicates the time of establishing practice. 

Judge David D. Zabriskie 1884 

Judge Cornelius Uoremus 1887 

John B. Zabriskie 1 904 

Frederick V. Watson 1907 

George V. Halsev 1909 

Grant C. Fox . .' 1911 

Lewis R. Conklin 1913 

Clyde A. Bogert 1915 



66 



CHAPTER IV 

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE 
PUBLIC LIBRARY 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

TO one who is interested in the present public school system of 
Ridgewood there is a certain fascination in tracing its growth 
from small beginnings. Today there are six different centers, 
where 64 teachers are engaged in the work of educating our 1,600 
children. The system is administered by a Board of Education, elected 
by the citizens, the present personnel of which are : — Dr. H. S. Willard, 
President; E. B. Lilly, Vice-President; Hadley Ford, Clerk; A. Frank 
Halsted, E. M. Bull and D. R. Bacon. 

Standing on Harrison Avenue near the Paramus Church, a little, 
one-room churchlike structure, disused since the Kenilworth School 
was built, was for many years the place where the lamp of knowledge 
was kept aglow in the Paramus region by a long succession of school- 
masters and schoolmistresses. 

Four other schools had preceded the present building on approxi- 
mately the same site. The first, used in the year following the Treaty 
of Peace that established the independence of the United States, was 
formerly a dwelling-house. It was located about fifty feet southeast 
of the present Paramus Church building, a slight depression of the 
earth still marking the spot. This building was itself the successor 
of a still earlier schoolhouse built in that vicinity. 

In 1810 a change became necessary and a small stone house was 
erected for school purposes near the sexton's house of the Paramus 
Church. 

In 1820 a second stone school building was erected about two 
hundred feet east of the present structure. This, in 1845, gave place 
to a frame building near the same ground. It was used until 1871, 
when the present building was erected. 

It is interesting to note that the supervision of schools rested wdth 
the church authorities until the civil powers took over their admin- 
istration. 

On Midland Avenue there is in present use an attractive school 
building the predecessor of which, a hundred years ago, stood on 
Paramus Road between Ridgewood Avenue and Grove Street. In these 
two schools, for generations, the little Dutch children from the scat- 
tered farms studied their A B C's and applied themselves to the 
mastery of the three R's. 

Several miles to the west of Paramus, beyond the fields and wood 
of the Van Emburgh farm, the little Village of Godwinville had come 
into existence a hundred years ago on the heights just beyond the 
western borders of the present Ridgewood. Here, on the Goffle Road 
between the present Midland Park Railroad station and the brook, 
stood a little brownstone school where Dutch and English were com- 

67 




rjl 






o 
o 

o 

in 



PAST AND PRESENT 



jiioiily spoken. Part of a blacksmith shop, still standing, is the only 
trace that remains of this old school. Children of a later day were 
provided with more modern accommodations and better instruction in 
the newer Midland Park Public School and in the Dutch Christian 
Private School. 

A part of a brick building, erected in 1770, just south of the resi- 
dence of Garret I. Hopper at the junction of Harristown Road and 
Rock Road (now used as a dwelling and within the present limits of 
Glen Rock), furnished a generation ago, a one-room school — the fourth. 
In this meagre building many of Ridgewood's citizens had their earliest 
schooling, it seems to have been attended mainly by the children 
living in that section extending from Harrison Avenue through the 
present center of the V^illage to Glen Rock, which it included. 

In 1872 the four schools mentioned proved too remote to be at- 
tended by many children in the homes which had sprung up. A new 
school district was then formed, and a wooden schoolhouse containing 
two rooms was built on the site of what is now the present Union 
Street School. When Ridgewood Township was set off from Franklin 
Township, four years later, this renuiined the only schoolhouse in the 
Township, and here all the children of Ridgewood received their school- 
ing. Later, increasing attendants made it necessary to add two more 
rooms. The attic was converted for this purpose. Subsequently the 
basement of the Dutch Reformed Church was used as an annex to 
provide for the ever-increasing pupils. 

At this juncture public opinion ventured to assert itself. At a 
school meeting it was voted to buy the cornfield on the corner of 
Beech Street and Franklin Avenue and to build upon it a large 
wooden schoolhouse at a cost of $35,000. But public opinion had not 
fully expressed itself — the women had not yet spoken ! On the fol- 
lowing day a petition was framed and put into circulation by the 
women asking the Trustees to call another meeting to reconsider the 
resolution and to ask for enough money to build a structure of brick, 
instead of frame. The Trustees complied, a meeting was called, and 
almost unanimously $47,000 was voted and a brick building ordered. 
This building, located on Beech Street, was completed and occupied 
about October 1, 1895. It is still, in certain respects, the best school 
building in the Village of Ridgewood. With eight good-sized class- 
I'ooms, seven small rooms, and an assembly hall on the third floor, the 
building afforded a welcome relief from the crowded conditions of the 
Union Street School. The use of the latter building was discontinued, 
and later it was torn down to make way for the present Union Street 
School building. 

When completed, the Beech Street School w^as deemed second to 
none of its size in the State. It was constructed during the adminis- 
tration of Mr. D. W. La Fetra as President of the Board of Educa- 
tion. This worthy citizen has always taken an active interest in public 
school Avork and, for many years, luis been a telling influence in 
educational matters in the Village. It may be interesting to note that 
the idea of "The Graded School Sj'stem" which was incorporated into 
a law by the State of New Jersey originated with Mr. La Fetra. 

69 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Though the plan was introduced in the State Legislature by Dr. 
Thomas Gr. Chattle of Long Branch, it was suggested by Mr. La Fetra 
to Dr. Chattle, while a teacher in the early fifties under the latter 's 
incumbency as School Superintendent of Ocean Township, New Jersey. 

The progressiveness of the Ridgewood of twenty odd years ago is 
indicated by the fact that in 1894 a kindergarten class under Miss 
Ivy W. Green was established in connection with its school. This 
was one of the first public kindergartens in New Jersey. 

In 1895 the nine years' elementary course was remodeled into an 
eight years' elementary course, followed by a three years' high-school 
course. That same year. Sewing, under Miss Sara Denison ; Manual 
Training, under Mr. B. C. Wooster, and more advanced Art and Me- 
chanical Drawing, under Miss Maggie Vreeland, were made a part 
of the school curriculum. Those were pioneer days in the introduction 
of handwork in the public schools. Under the leadership of Mr. 
Wooster, Ridgewood became one of the pioneer school communities 
in industrial education. 

During the ten years from 1895 to 1905, the Beech Street School 
building housed all the Ridgewood school children. 

In 1905 Ridgewood met the increased needs of its school children 
by constructing three four-room school buildings: The Kenilworth 
Place, Union Street, and Monroe Street schools. 

During the year 1905-1906, under the superintendency of Dr. Wm. 
T. Whitney, the high-school course was extended to cover four years, 
and the work of extending and modernizing the school, which Mr. 
Wooster had begun, was greatly advanced. The high-school graduates 
of that year began to enter college and normal schools. Each succeed- 
ing year has seen their numbers increase. 

In 1906 four rooms were added to the Union Street School. 

The schools grew so steadily for the next five years that, in 1911, 
the pressure of need demanded the immediate erection of a new build- 
ing. The Harrison Avenue School was begun. At the same time work 
of extension was started upon the Kenilworth Place and Monroe Street 
buildings. To each of these buildings seven rooms and assembly hall, 
were added. 

In 1912 the growing educational needs of the section known as 
Upper Ridgewood prompted an appropriation for the purchase of a 
plot on Erie Avenue, corner of California Street, containing 2 acres, 
and for the erection thereon of a one-story portable building. 

In 1913 the High School grew almost to the limits of the capacity 
of the Beech Street building. Only one room remained unoccupied. 
To cope with other demands for space three portable schoolhouses were 
placed on the adjacent grounds to provide, temporarily, for three 
grammar grades. In the same year the citizens of Ridgewood voted 
to purchase as a site for a new High School building and an athletic 
field the property of Captain John A. Edwards, situated on East 
Ridgewood Avenue, corner of Heermance Road, and the field fronting 
the same formerly known as the White Star Baseball Field. 

The hill on which it is proposed to erect the building comprises a 

70 



PAST AND PRESENT 



plot of 518 feet by 346 feet. With the athletic field it covers a total 
of approximately nine acres. 

The old Edwards house was removed, and the large barn was placed 
on the Athletic Field at the north end and has been renovated and 
put in lirst-class condition, making an attractive club house for the 
use of the High School athletes. Set in among line old trees, it pre- 
sents an attractive appearance wdiich is much enhanced by the large 
Hagpole, erected on the ground adjoining, presented on July 4, 1915, 
to the school children by the Independence Day Association of Kidge- 
wood. A large American tlag, for use on this pole, was also presented 
on the same day, by Bergen Council, Junior Order of American 
Mechanics. 

The High School on this hill, where the building will be easily 
visible from a considerable distance, and the Athletic Field facing it, 
forming a natural amphitheatre, will together provide a site unsur- 
passed in the State and will, no doubt, stimulate emulation among 
school authorities in other communities. 

This property cost the town $28,500. Five thousand dollars has 
been expended since to raise the Athletic Field to a higher level. Earth 
from the Station Improvement was used for this purpose. The street 
passing through the property and marking the line between the school 
site and the Athletic Field has been gratuitously deeded by Mrs. Martha 
Edwards to the Board of Education. 

By 1914 the High School required and occupied the entire Beech 
Street edifice. It made use of every available nook and corner in the 
building. Two attic rooms were finished off to serve as cooking and 
sewing rooms. Three cellar rooms were put into use as a Manual Train- 
ing room and laboratories for Physics and Chemistry. Meanwhile the 
over-crowded conditions of the classes in the Beach-Union Primary 
and Grammar Schools caused the arranging of four of these classes on 
part time, despite the accommodations afforded temporarily by the 
three portable one-room buildings. 

In 1915 a four-room school building to cost $17,500 was authorized 
to replace the portable structure on the Upper Ridgewood School site. 
This building, since completed, has been in use since school opened in 
October, 1916. The design is of the mission type. It is one story in 
height, and contains four regulation size classrooms and teachers' room. 
It is furnislied with the most modern of plumbing, heating and ven- 
tilating equipment. This school is the only example of its type any- 
where in the vicinity and, besides offering every advantage in lighting, 
good ventilation, and practicability from an administrative viewpoint, 
it is in proper harmony with the group of artistic homes surrounding 
it in that locality, and is as pleasing to the eye as one could desire. 
The building is constructed so that other similar units may be added 
as occasion may require. It is designed to provide for a full eighth 
grade and kindergarten grammar school, with a large assembly hall 
accessible from all corridors. Besides being in daily use for school 
purposes, the building has become the community centre for all forms 
of civic and social gatherings and has proved a most valuable adjunct 
to the community it serves. 

71 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

During the same year (1915), a proposition to issue bonds to the 
extent of $150,000 for the purpose of erecting a unit, at least, of a 
new High School building was vetoed by the citizens, the time being 
considered as most inopportune for the expenditure of such a sum. 
After several months of agitation and efforts to educate the people in 
school requirements, an appropriation of $225,000 was voted, in Jan- 
uary, 1916, to build a modern High School building. The firm of 
Tracy & Swartwout, of New York City, was selected to design the new 
group, and contracts have been signed and work already started upon 
what bids fair to be the most beautiful as well as the most practicable 
series of buildings for educational purposes in the public school system 
of this or any neighboring State. 

The plans provide for a group arrangement of buildings. The ad- 
vantages of increased light and air and the unusual opportunities 
afforded by the natural contour of the site, make such a design prac- 
tical, pleasing to the eye, and economical in construction. The aim to 
conserve the beautiful grove of trees was another determining factor 
in the arrangement of this architectural ensemble. According to the 
proper artistic standards a group of low buildings with exterior lines 
broken up and steep pitched roofs were essential to give the requisite 
picturesqueness. The lay-out of the buildings was so carefully planned 
that except for the removal of one useless hickory and a few apple 
trees, the stately elms, pines, birch, and other beautiful trees were 
preserved entire. Few public school sites offer such wonderful natural 
advantages. 

The finished structure provides for a capacity of one thousand 
pupils. The unit now under construction will accommodate between 
six and seven hundred. Expensive material will not be employed to 
produce the desired artistic effect. Construction will be fire-proof 
throughout; the exterior walls will be of reddish-colored brick trimmed 
with cast stone, while the roofs are to be of slate. 

The main building will contain nineteen class and recitation rooms 
together with complete laboratory equipment for the sciences; ample 
space is provided for the manual training and domestic science de- 
partments, as well as for those of art, stenography, and bookkeeping; 
there are to be, in addition, a hospital and administrative room, while 
provision is also made for a lunch-room, and for storage facilities. In 
the basement will be placed the boiler plant, toilets, etc. 

The Auditorium, which is to be a separate building, will have seat- 
ing accommodation for one thousand persons. It will be connected 
with the main building and will serve also as an assembly room and 
study-hall. The interior of the Auditorium will be done in brick and 
plaster with an ornamental vaulted ceiling. 

The Gymnasium, located near the Athletic Field, will be provided 
with thoroughly modern equipment. The shower, locker rooms, etc., 
will occupy the basement. Later, it is intended that this building 
shall connect directly with the main building. The unit at present 
contracted for, it is hoped, will be ready early in 1918. Our school 
plant now consists of the following buildings and grounds : 

1. Beech Street School, known as the High School, on plot of land 

72 



PAST AND PRESENT 



at corner of Beech Street and Franklin Avenue, containing fifteen 
rooms and assembly hall. Three of these rooms are used for admin- 
istration purposes. 

2. Harrison Avenue School, located at Harrison Avenue and Fair- 
view Place, containing seventeen rooms and assembly. 

3. Kenilworth School, on Kenilworth Place between Ridgewood and 
Spring Avenues, containing twelve rooms and assembly. 

4. Union Street School, containing ten rooms. 

5. Monroe Street School, on Monroe Street between Franklin and 
Godwin Avenues, containing twelve rooms and assembly. 

6. Upper Ridgewood School, a new and modern one-story struct- 
ure, containing four classrooms. The design of this school represents 
quite a radical departure from the other school buildings in this vicinity. 

7. Four one-room portable buildings, upon the Beech Street plot. 
These were erected for the purpose of relieving congestion in the High 
School and to provide proper laboratory accommodations. 

The estimated value of land, buildings, and equipment of the above 
schools, together with the cost of the new High School site and present 
buildings thereon, amounts to $309,100. With the completion of the 
High School, the total will approximate $550,000. 

With the completion of the Athletic Field, an added stimulus will 
undoubtedly be given to the development of our high school athletics. 
This is a feature already well known, and not without reason is it 
considered as rating high in the neighboring communities. For a long 
time baseball, football, track athletics, and general physical training 
have been given a full share of attention in our school activities. The 
new facilities will add further opportunities for the physical better- 
ment of our youth; and there is every reason to believe that our boys 
and girls will grasp the advantages of laying a healthful and strong 
physical foundation upon which to build the mental super-structure. 

The educational features have been notably progressive and fit in 
with the latest ideas of pedagogy. Yet with all the advanced methods 
of the present time, who shall say that the training of the child in the 
little country schoolhouses of one hundred or of fifty years ago was 
not as adequate to the needs of those times as of our own day? We 
must not forget that the men whose shrewdness and keen business 
judgment laid the foundation of Ridgewood — and laid it well — were 
indebted to those same little schoolhouses for the early impulses which 
made possible their subsequent development and successes. Indeed, 
volumes could be written of the later achievements in the world of 
letters, business, and the professions of the children of our early rural 
schools. 

RIDGEWOOD — that is, the Ridgewood of to-day as we know it — 
made its educational debut in the little two-room Union Street School 
where, under the guidance of Mr. B. C. Wooster, now County Super- 
intendent of Bergen County, and those faithful workers who labored 
with him, the fame of Ridgewood 's superiority and progressiveness 
early began to attract attention. From that humble beginning to the 
present Ridgewood has continued, under the able management of Dr. 
W. T. Whitney and then Mr. I. W. Travell, our present Superinten- 

73 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

dent, to forge steadily ahead until now the school system is proclaimed 
an achievement second to none in our State for thoroughness and 
efficiency. Our schools stand as a monument to the high character and 
generosity of the citizenship of our town. In its gift to its youth the 
latter quality has been expressed freely — almost lavishly — time after 
time. 

!So important has been considered the preparation of the youth of 
Ridgewood for their ultimate entrance as men and women in the affairs 
of the world, it would appear to hold a pre-eminent thought in the 
minds of our citizens. A desire for such worthy associations has, no 
doubt, attracted many persons to settle in Ridgewood. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS 

A history of education in Ridgewood which contains no reference 
to the private schools would be assuredly incomplete. In fact, our 
village would compare unfavorably with the best suburban life, if it 
had no private school system to record since the choicest suburban 
communities, generally, have well-established and well-authorized pri- 
vate schools. 

Private schools had their beginning in Ridgewood, in 1868, when Mr. 
Frederic Kidder opened the large house on North Van Dien Avenue, 
built by him the year before, as a boarding and day school. This house 
is now owned and occupied by Mr. M. T. Richardson. 

It is likely that the disappointment which may have attended the 
failure to secure a single boarding pupil was somewhat mitigated by 
the presence of a Mr. Jolly as principal of the few day pupils. For 
about three years, until the school closed, Principal Jolly, assisted by 
a Miss Smith, took care of the boys and girls in attendance. 

It is of interest to add that Judge Zabriskie, Mr. Edward Chapman, 
and his brother, Mr. Charles Chapman, were among those who attended 
the Kidder Academy, as it was called. 

In 1868, the well-known authoress, Amelia E. Barr, upon her arrival 
in New York City from Texas, after the death of her husband, came 
to Ridgewood as tutor to the three sons of William Libby, Esq., father 
of Professor William Libby of Princeton University. 

In the early part of 1869, the tutorial work developed into a school 
for boys and girls located in a house on North Van Dien Avenue, 
opposite Linwood Avenue. There were six pupils in the beginning and 
the number varied, at times reaching ten or twelve. The school lasted 
for about a year and a half and was discontinued when Mr. Libby 's 
sons became students at Princeton. 

It is interesting to know that while conducting this short-lived 
school, Mrs. Barr was engaged in writing a novel, and that it was at 
Mr. Libby 's suggestion that she entered upon her literary work. Mrs. 
Bai'r's verbal description of incidents connected with her life in Texas 
had so impressed Mr. Libby that Avhen she faced the problem of her 
future existence, after the discontinuance of her school, he induced her 
to write a description of one of the incidents, which he placed in the 
hands of a New York publishing house. The story was accepted and 
shortly afterward Mrs. Barr removed to New York City to continue 

74 



PAST AND PRESENT 



what was to be her life Ayork. Before leaving Ridgewood she began 
her novel "Margaret Sinelaire's Silent Money". 

From the time Mrs. Barr's school closed until 1879, there seems to 
have been no private school in Ridgewood. Then Miss Rebecca W. 
Hawes of 36 Corsa Terrace came to the relief and added to her very 
Imsy life as the village music teacher, the equally arduous work of 
conducting a school for young children. This school assembled in a 
room over the furniture store of Theodore V. Terhune, at the corner 
of Ridgewood Avenue and South Oak Street. Beginning in March, 
1871, and for about twenty years thereafter, Miss Hawes was the only 
music teacher in the district extending from Allendale to Hawthorne. 
She was engaged in this work for twenty-three years and during that 
time took part in the first public concert ever given in Ridgewood, as 
well as furnished the music for the first kindergarten class and the 
first dancing class. 

It is extremely interesting to hear Miss Hawes tell of her work in 
connection with the school held in that upper room. Often this busy, 
music-loving teacher, enlivened the routine of the school room by sing- 
ing, or reading aloud, or, on beautiful days by recess periods under 
the oak and hickory trees in the fields through which Oak Street was 
afterwards opened. 

Among those who were first taught to read and write and sew at 
Miss Hawes' school were John Hawes, Howard Maltbie, Edgar Wat- 
lington, Howard, Robert, and Willie Walton, Jos. Jefferson, Jr., Mary 
Dobbs, Elizabeth Hawes, Carrie Buck, and Louise Maltbie, all of whom 
were then less than ten years old. Two older boys w^ho received special 
instruction, were George Totten, now a noted architect of Washington, 
D. C, and John Terhune (Harry Rouclere). 

Two years after the establishment of her school. Miss Hawes dis- 
posed of her good will to Mrs. John A. Marinus, who continued the 
school for several years at her home on East Ridgewood Avenue. 
During this period Mrs. Buck also opened a boarding and day school 
for children, on the property of B. F. Robinson, on Cottage Place. A 
small building was placed in the rear of the residence and used for the 
class work. Here were held the first kindergarten and the first danc- 
ing classes of the Village. i\Irs. Buck was succeeded in the manage- 
ment of the school by her daughters — Miss Helen D. Buck and Miss 
Caroline Buck. 

Other educational ventures, of unquestionable worth to the com- 
munity but of short duration, were made by Miss Josephine Rowland 
about 1893, in a room in the rear of Tice's drug store, then on the 
corner opposite its present location ; by Miss Florence de Z. Patton in 
1893 and 1895, at the corner of Spring and Maple Avenues; by Miss 
Ives, near the office of Dr. Vroom, Ridgewood Avenue ; and by ]\Iiss 
Martha E. Smith in 1897 on Franklin Avenue. 

A larger school, which included both primary and college prepara- 
tory courses, was established by ]\Ir. James B. Parsons in 1902, on the 
large property on Ridgewood Avenue, familiarly known as Elmhurst. 
Mr. Parsons was encouraged to enter upon a project of this scope by 

75 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

the patronage and influence of such men as E. LeB. Gardner, Charles 
H. Eddy, Duncan D. Chaplin, George E. Boreham, Charles A. De Shon 
and others who wished private school advantages for their children. 
As the years passed the venture prospered and former pupils of the 
Ridgewood Preparatory School can now be found among the graduates 
of various colleges and occupying responsible and useful positions in 
business and society.- In 1912 it was decided to divide the property 
occupied by the school into building lots, Mr. Parsons, believing an 
elevated site in a quiet and beautiful residential section to be the best 
place for the development of boys and girls, secured property on 
Heights Road where a thoroughly modern school was built. With 
well-furnished rooms and library, with all conveniences and modern 
sanitation, it is doubtful if another suburban town has a private day 
school equal to that of Ridgewood. 

In this connection it may be said that Ridgewood 's private school 
system represents the highest development of this type of education. 
It is a system by no means rivaling that of the State, but rather 
deserving the reputation of being a faithful ally of the public school. 
The latter is unquestionably best fitted for children of some types, but 
its failure with others is due to what may be described as mechanical 
methods which permit of but slight discrimination on account of per- 
sonal temperament. Doubtless this is necessary in the handling of large 
numbers of pupils, but it is in this particular point that the chief 
merit of the private school lies. It provides a flexible system which 
is adapted to the individual boy or girl, helping them to find theni- 
selves. Individual supervision in a co-operative environment is the 
key-note. The school, in short, must be fitted to the pupil, as well as 
the pupil to the school. 

The Victoria School for little children, opened October 5, 1916, is 
the latest addition to the educational institutions of Ridgewood and 
is named after the authoress, Metta Victoria Victor. Remembrance 
of her many years' association with the early historical and social 
development of Ridgewood was the incentive which prompted her 
daughter, Vivia Victor, its Principal, to name this school after her. 

The purpose of the Victoria School is the laying of a solid founda- 
tion for the child's advancing experience in life; the right environment, 
individual instruction along the best educational lines, and recognition 
of the special needs of little children. Centrally and very pleasantly 
located on West Ridgewood Avenue, this school expects to fill a need 
of the parents of Ridgewood and to exert an ever-increasing influence 
on the future development of the Village. 

The first sewing school in this vicinity was opened with five pupils 
in the Hawes homestead, Ho-Ho-Kus. After the establishment of an 
Episcopal Mission Sunday School in the first public school of Ho-Ho- 
Kus, the classes were held in that schoolroom on Saturday afternoons. 
There was always a large attendance, some of the pupils coming from 
Ridgewood. After the present Waldwick Public School was completed 
the meetings were held alternately in the two places, and still later 
a Saturday morning class was started where the older girls were taught 

76 



PAST AND PRESENT 



to cut and make their own dresses and children's garments. Direc- 
tions for work and a book of "Sewing Songs" were obtained from 
New York and the classes continued for more than three years, the 
number of workers increasing to fifty. Two New Year's trees and 
one Christmas tree, filled Avith gifts, were given by Ho-Ho-Kus friends 
and at the close of the work an exhibit of the handicraft was held 
in the Parish House of Waldwick Methodist Church, the older girls 
wearing dresses made by themselves. The teachers during this time 
were Mrs. and Miss R. W. Hawes and Miss Lucy Hawes. 

It was this work which later interested the citizens of Ho-Ho-Kus, 
Waldwick and Ridgewood in the petition for full school suffrage for 
women and brought a letter from the County Superintendent of Edu- 
cation thanking them for the "valuable work" they had done in the 
public schools in many ways. 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

The Village Improvement Association was organized in 1897. and 
among its projects for promoting the best interests of Ridgewood was 
the establishment of a public library. 

Many of the residents of Ridgewood will remember the old Zabriskie 
Building, now remodelled and occupied as the real estate of^ce of 
Messrs. Stevens and Tetor. 

The rent of this building Avas given for three years, and a "Book 
Shower" was held. The books received were of all kinds and condi- 
tions, but the committee of twenty selected a sufficient number to place 
on the shelves for circulation and subscribed for ten periodicals to 
be used in the reading room. Among the first books received — some 
of which are still in use — were a number which had been accumulated 
by the members of the "Tuesday Book Club", an organization of 
women of the Village established a number of years before. At the 
end of three years, the room became too small for its purpose, and 
in 1900 the library was established in its present quarters over the 
First National Bank. 

To meet the increased expense, the room was sublet to various 
organizations and according to the law regarding libraries and free 
reading rooms, the Village trustees in 1903 appropriated $300.00. 

There are now on the shelves 4,800 volumes and 33 periodicals 
are to be found in the reading room. In the year ending October, 
1916, there was a circulation of 20,000 books. 

Publtstter's Note: Althoufjh aimounced after the date of fhe piihlicntion of this 
hook and durinq the earhi vart of 1911. the gift by ivill of Mrs. Gertrvde Pease 
Anderson of the siim of $100,000 for the ereetion of a free library in Ridf/eirood. 
and also the siini of $50,000 both in trust for its maintenance, in lomnn memory of 
her father. Georc/e L. Pease, to be called the "Georqe L. Pease Memorial lAbrary." 
a^ssiires the continuation of a public irork established by the icomen of our com- 
munity and it is peculiarly filtinq that one of their members should make its future 
life so splendidly possible. 



77 



CHAPTER V 
RELIGIOUS INTERESTS 

WHILE the church life of Ridgewood dates back two centuries 
to a period when the American Indian was still roaming over 
hill and dale of the beautiful Paramus, it is the purpose of 
this article to sketch briefly the history of the several religious organ- 
izations that were in existence or came to life during the last fifty 
years. The early colonists came here to secure fuller opportunities 
than were to be had across the sea. They brought with them their 
religion and their love of liberty. 

REFORMED CHURCH OF PARAMUS 

The story of the last fifty years of our churches may consistently 
begin with references to the oldest church organization in our com- 
munity — that of the Reformed Church of Paramus (The Congregation 
of Paramus). But the last half century seems short when we remem- 
ber that the church services were begun in 1725, and with the excep- 
tion of brief intervals have been held on the same site for nearly two 
centuries. 

The present church was built in 1800, and the chapel was pur- 
chased and moved into its present location about 1874. 

Great changes occurred in the affairs of the church during the 
fifty years that began when the echoes of the Civil War were just 
passing away. The Rev. Dr. E. T. Corwin served the church during 
the Civil War period, from 1857-1863, and he was succeeded in 1864, 
by the Rev. Isaac S. DeMund, who served for six years. He was the 
grandfather of Dr. C. DeMund, now a practicing physician of Ridge- 
wood. 

In 1871, the Rev. Dr. Goyn Talmage began his ministry in Paramus 
and during his incumbency the church building was renovated and 
a new parsonage built. 

The Rev. John C. Van Deventer followed Dr. Talmage in 1879 and 
remained until 1886. 

In 1887, the Rev. William H. Vroom, D.D., was called to become 
the minister and during his time the church was again renovated and 
a fine organ installed through the loyalty and generosity of a leading 
member, a lady well-known but seeking no prominence. 

The period of readjustment to the modern urban life of the Village 
of Ridgewood was then beginning and in the natural course of events 
great changes occurred in the life and membership of the congregation. 

In 1907, the Rev. Henry D. Cook, the present pastor, was ordained 
and was installed during the succeeding year and is a worthy successor 
of eminent predecessors. 

The Paramus Church has been directly the mother of several other 
churches of Ridgewood. Christ Episcopal Church, the Reformed 

78 



niBGEWOOB, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

(Miureli of Ridgewood, Park Ridge, Westwood, and Ho-Ho-Kus have 
among their membership those once worshipping at the Paramus Church, 
and the latter has furnished charter members for at least four of the 
other churches mentioned. 

No financial incumbrances and balances on the right side of the 
ledger indicate the generosity of the people. 

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

Christ Church has the distinction of being the first religious organ- 
ization to be established in the center of the Village. A committee 
was appointed to form a parish in 1860, but the Civil War prevented 
definite action until February 6, 1864. 

The first church, a wooden structure, was on the west side of Van 
Dieii Avenue, just beyond the residence of M. T. Richardson, the 
corner-stone being laid in March, 1865. The first services in the new 
building were held May 13, 1866. Up to that time the congregation 
was ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Parrington of Hackensack, the 
Rev. Mr. Waite of Paterson, and the Rev. Mr. Smith of Passaic. 

On November 4, 1866, the Rev. L. R. Dickinson began his rector- 
ship, which continued for fifteen years. The church was consecrated 
by Bishop Odenheimer on June 23, 1867. On Sunday, November 10, 
1872, a new organ, costing $2,273, was first used. In 1907 this organ 
was sold to the Presbyterian Church at Ridgewood and Pleasant 
Avenues. 

The church building was moved in August, 1873, across the fields 
from Van Dien Avenue to the present site at Cottage Place and Frank- 
lin Avenue. The second rector, the Rev. T. S. Cartwright, began his 
ministry in 1882 and resigned two years later. He was succeeded 
January 1, 1885, by the Rev. Louis A. Lanpher, who remained until 
January, 1890. Six months later, on July 1st, the Rev. George Clarke 
Cox became the rector of the parish. 

The Rectory on Cottage Place was built in 1891. 

The Rev. Mr. Cox resigned in August, 1893, and was followed by 
the Rev. E. H. Cleveland, who began his ministry in March, 1894. 

By that time the old Gothic structure had become inadequate for 
the demands of the growing parish and a movement to secure a new 
edifice, which was started in 1895, resulted in the building of a new 
stone church and a frame parish house in 1900. On November 1, 1904, 
Rev. Mr. Cleveland was called to another field of service and was 
succeeded on March 1, 1905, by the Rev. Leslie E. Learned, who 
resigned in 1908. 

The Rev. Philip C. Pearson was next secured as rector in 1909. 
He served until April, 1916. The Rev. Edwin S. Carson, the present 
rector, assumed his duties on November 1, 1916. 

The church is now free from debt and will be consecrated June 23, 
1917, the Fiftieth Anniversary of the consecration of the first edifice. 

The parish contains over 300 families and the list of communicants 
contains 424 names. 

80 



PAST AND PRESENT 



THE KENILWORTH COLLEGIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

{Christian Reformed) 

What is familiarly known as the "White Church", on the south- 
east corner of Ridgewood and Pleasant Avenues, is the second oldest 
church in the township of Ridgewood and was organized December 
20, 1870. 

The members were formerly affiliated with Paramus Reformed 
Church, but about 1823 there arose a dissension in regard to the 
doctrines and practices which caused the secession from Paramus 
Church of a considerable number of people. These formed what 
was once called "The True Reformed Church", the title being later 
changed to that of the Christian Reformed Church. 

The church building was located at Waldwick until the year 1858, 
when it was removed to the present site. It is now known as The 
Kenilworth Collegiate Presbyterian Church. 

In 1894, during the pastorate of the Rev. Harvey Iseman, the 
minister and people came to realize that by the development of real 
estate interests and the consequent influx of many new families not 
in sympathy with the policy and practices of the Christian Reformed 
Church, the religious life of the community would be better served 
under other ecclesiastical conditions. 

After legal procedure, approved by a majority of the members, 
the congregation in 1898 became affiliated with the Presbyterian order. 

The church is now collegiate with the West Side Presbyterian or- 
ganization on Monroe Street and Franklin Avenue, liaving for their 
pastor the Rev. Dr. I. J. Lansing, D.D. 

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH 

This church was organized May 24, 1875, with nine charter mem- 
bers. Three came by certificate from the Paramus Reformed Church 
and the remaining six from churches in New York and Brooklyn. 
It was the outgrowth of a Union Sunday School, which met in a lodge 
room of the Odd Fellow Order, known as AVilson Hall. This was 
in a building used as a general merchandise store, Whritenour and 
Colfax, proprietors, standing on the lot where Mr. E. B. Van Horn's 
feed and grain store now stands. 

The small congregation, averaging 75 people, for two years held 
its services in the lodge room and as the non-churchgoers gradually 
became interested in the institution, a larger room and a more desir- 
able location became necessary. After heroic efforts, the fifty com- 
municants secured by the gift of Mr. Frederick Kidder, long since 
deceased, the plot of ground on the corner of Union and Dayton Streets 
for a church site. 

The first church was occupied on Sunday, November 4, 1877, while 
the interior Avas still without walls and the exterior was covered only 
with sheathing boards. 

About 1891 the church building was enlarged and renovated thor- 

81 



RIDGEWOOB, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

oughly, new pews being installed, and the cabinet organ being replaced 
by one of the vocalion type. 

Again in 1900 an extension was made at the back of the church 
in order to provide accommodations made necessary by the regrading 
of the Bible School and to furnish more modern conveniences for the 
various societies of the congregation. At the same time a recess was 
provided for a new Widmer pipe organ, valued at $4,000, which was 
installed in 1901. 

In 1913, at a special meeting called for the purpose, a movement 
was inaugurated to furnish a church house that should have every 
convenience and accommodation called for, in order that service might 
be stimulated and all departments of the church's life strengthened. 
The church house was dedicated in 1915. 

A parsonage was built in 1881 and occupied by the pastor's family 
in October, 1882. The lot, 115 x 122, was the first sold from the tract 
of six acres, covered with a splendid growth of oak and chestnut, front- 
ing on Prospect Street and Woodside Avenue. 

A recent improvement, the concreting of the grounds around the 
front of the church property and the laying of cement sidewalks, is 
an evidence of the continued generosity and progressiveness of the 
congregation. 

The constituency of the church is strong in numbers and influential 
in the community and promises much more for future generations of 
Ridgewood people. 

During the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Van Neste, great changes 
in the personnel of the church have naturally occurred. Many who 
were prominent and loyal in earlier days have left behind works 
'Svhich yet speak" of sacrifice and service. 

The present and only pastor of the church during forty-one years 
has welcomed a large number of communicants into the church, there 
being now about 500. 

During the last Classical or Synodical Year, closing in May, 1916, 
the census shows that $2,700 was disbursed for the stated benevolences 
of the church, while, in addition, over $300 was given for general 
purposes. The current expenses of the church amounted to $6,700. 

Charter members have gone to the Glen Rock Reformed Church and 
several are now connected with Upper Ridgewood Society (Reformed). 

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH ( COLORED) 

The colored people of Ridgewood have by no means neglected their 
religious develo])mcnt. For a number of years, one denomination has 
been organized under the title named above. About 1882, the Rev. 
J. A Van Neste, pastor of the First Reformed Church, was requested 
by District Superintendent "White of the A. M. E. Zion Church, to 
meet with a few colored citizens in an old house that occupied the 
present location of Mr. Morgan's plumbing shop on Godwin Avenue 
near the railroad tracks. 

This meeting resulted in an organization with seven charter mem- 
bers. For a brief period, meetings were held in the basement of the 

vS2 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Episcopal Church located on Cottage Place, under the Rev. Mr. Cleve- 
land's incumbency, and a small building for a place of worship and 
other purposes incidental to church life was subsequently erected on 
Rock Avenue. 

The present church and parsonage on Broad Street and Highwood 
Avenue were built in 1907-1908, largely through the liberality of one 
white man, who has always evinced a great interest in the welfare and 
progress of the colored people. 

In the conference year of 1915-1916, the people contributed $135 
for mission work in the Southern States and, in addition, secured 
$1,465 for current expenses. 

The following pastors have served the church in the order named: 
Rev. Moses Thomas Anderson, Rev. p]lijah Hammett, Rev. George N. 
Ray, Rev. J. R. Dangerfield, Rev. J. H. Huggins, Rev. H. C. Van Pelt, 
and the present incumbent. Rev. G. E. Ferris, who took up the work 
on May 1, 1913, and whose wise management and quiet zeal have in- 
spired the confidence of his own people and have won the sincere 
regard of the community in which he labors. 

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL 

The parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was organized by the Roman 
Catholics of the Village in the year 1889. The Rev. Father Nevins 
was the first resident pastor. Owing to rapidly failing health, his 
administration was of short duration. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Dr. Mull, through whose courage and energy the church on Union 
Street was built in 1890. 

In 1892, the Rev. J. A. Sullivan took charge. A man of brilliant 
attainments and charming personality, he did much in his five years 
as pastor to further the instruction of the people and the improvement 
of the church property. 

From 1897 to 1901 the parish was in charge of the Rev. E. A. Kelly, 
who labored four years with untiring zeal in ministering to the spiritual 
needs of the people confided to his care. 

The Rev. P. T. Carew came in 1901 and, besides earing for the 
church interests at Ridgewood, began missions at Wyekoff and Ramsey. 
In 1907 Father Carew was transferred to Dover and the Rev. J. A. 
Kelly was sent as pastor to Ridgewood remaining, however, but a few 
months and being succeeded by the Rev. D. F. McCarthy, whose term 
as pastor was also of short duration. 

The present pastor, the Rev. E. M. O'Mally, was appointed in 
September, 1908. 

From the very beginning the parish has increased steadily in num- 
bers and influence and from a few sturdy Catholics, twenty-five years 
ago, it has grown to include more than 800 active members. The 
various church societies are active in both the temporal and the spir- 
itual affairs of the parish. Tlie debt on the old cliurch property has 
long since been liquidated and the building itself, having served its 
purpose, has been abandoned as a house of worship. 

On March 5, 1912, the church acquired title to the Suckert prop- 

83 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

erty on Prospect Street. A new stone church, with a seating capacity 
of more than 500, was begun in July, 191-4, and dedicated with solemn 
ceremony on Sunday, July 4, 1915, by the Rt. Rev. J. J. O'Connor, 
D.D., Bishop of Newark. 

EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH 

Emmanuel Baptist Church was organized in November, 1891. The 
first meeting place was a barn near Ridgewood and Brookside Avenues. 
After remaining here for some time, the meetings were held in the 
residence of A. H. Dunton on Van Dien Avenue, then in the parlor 
of Mrs. John McGuinness's home, and finally in the "Tabernacle", the 
enclosed horse-shed on their own lot, which was utilized until the build- 
ing, then in course of erection, was finished. 

This first building was dedicated in November, 1892, on the first 
anniversary of the organization of the church. The Rev. John C. 
Shrive was the first pastor, serving from May 1, 1892, until June 25, 
1893. He was followed by the Rev. George E. Rines, whose pastorate 
extended over the period from July 2, 1893, to January 1, 1897. The 
Rev. Franklin K. Mathiews became pastor on April 22, 1897, and re- 
mained until April 1. 1906. The Rev. F. V. Atkinson was pastor from 
March 1, 1907, to November 1, 1908. The Rev. Charles 0. AVright 
became pastor on January 1, 1909, and is still serving with much 
benefit to the members. 

In October, 1909, after a thorough discussion of the needs of the 
field, the church voted unanimously and enthusiastically to build a 
new house of worship. On Sunday, January 2, 1910, subscriptions 
amounting to .$21,000 were received and the Trustees were named as 
a Building Committee and instructed to have plans prepared for 
submission to the church. Messrs. Upjohn and Conable of New York 
were selected to prepare the final drawings and specifications. The 
contracts for the buildings were awarded to Mr. H. T. Walthery and 
Mr. W. C. Banta. Mr. M. T. Rogers was given the seating contract. 

On Memorial Day, 1911, ground was broken for the new building 
in the presence of a large company of people. The corner-stone was 
laid on Sunday afternoon, October 1, 1911, after an appronriate and 
inspiring address by the Rev. Robert E. Farrier, D.D., of Passaic. 

The style of the new building is the decorated English Gothic, this 
style being chosen because of its flowing lines. The plan calls for a 
tower to span the porte eochere. This entrance is now provided with 
a temporary gable. The material is field stone trimmed with artificial 
limestone. 

There are 338 comiiumicants in the fellowship of the church and 
the usual societies and guilds actively express the Christian faith and 
love of the people for thinars worth-while. 

The Year Book shows gifts of $1,300 for denominational purposes 
and $6,700 for general expenses. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

The organization of the Methodist Episcopal Clnirch of Ridgewood 
began in the spring of 1895, when several Methodist families came into 

84 



PAST AND PRESENT 



the Village, and being called into counsel, resolved to immediately 
ascertain the probable supporters of a church of their faith by a care- 
ful canvass of all the known adherents. This was done under the 
supervision of Brother Edgar W. Rogers, with the result that it was 
decided to build a church. 

After several preliminary meetings, an organization was effected 
with 13 members, under the direction of the Rev. J. B. Faulks, D.D., 
the Presiding Elder of the Jersey City District, Newark Conference, 
who appointed a Class Leader. Stewards were nominated and a Board 
of Trustees elected July 5th, in accordance with the laws of New Jersey. 

In the meantime, it had been ascertained that the schoolhouse on 
Union Street was about to be vacated and its lower floor was secured 
for religious services. The work of remodeling and properly furnishing 
it hastened and the first service was held on Sunday, July 7th, the Rev. 
W. C. James, a recent graduate from Hackettstown Seminary, preach- 
ing the first sermon to a congregation of about 90 persons. He preached 
on succeeding Sundays and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Beech, the 
Rev. R. S. Povey, and the Rev. Edwin L. Earp, the last named an 
ordained deacon who was finally called to the pastorate and served 
from 1896 to 1897. The Rev. Frank Chadwick served from 1897 to 
1900; the Rev. Elam M. Garton, from 1900 to 1903; the Rev. A. C. 
MeCrea from 1903 to 1904; the Rev. D. F. Diefendorf from 1905 to 
1906; the Rev. C. S. Ryman from 1907 to 1911; and the Rev. T. G. 
Spencer since 1911, the efficient pastor of this influential church which 
has 359 full members, 40 probationers, and 18 non-resident members. 
The present building was completed in 1900. 

The expenditures last Conference Year, were $6,500 for local work, 
and $3,000 for benevolences, both denominational and otherwise. 

UNITARIAN SOCIETY 

The first religious service was held by the Unitarian Society in the 
Opera House on October 13, 1895, but it was not until May 7, 1896, 
that a formal organization was perfected. 

The first regular minister was the Rev. Geo. H. Badger, while the 
present minister is the Rev. Arthur Singsen. 

The present church on Cottage Place was built in the fall of 1900 
and was first occupied in February, 1901. The entire debt on the 
church and site was cancelled on May 6, 1909. The parsonage was 
built on the church grounds, at the rear of the church building, in 
the fall of 1912. 

The approximate value of the church property is $9,000. The 
church is self-supporting and has at present about 25 active members. 
The church auxiliaries consist of a Sunday School and Woman's Alli- 
ance, the latter being affiliated with the National Alliance of Unitar- 
ians and Liberal Christian Women. This alliance in 1896 opened the 
first Woman's Exchange in Ridgewood and operated it successfully for 
two years. Under the able direction of Miss Rebecca W. Hawes it paid 
out $1,200 annually to women who w^ere in need of work. Tt also gave 
the first laAvn party in the community where a platform for dancing 
in the evening was a feature. 

85 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST 

The Christian Science Society of Ridgewood, N. J., was organized 
with ten members in 1903. Meetings were held and a Reading Room 
maintained in the Ridgewood Public Library and room adjoining. 

On September 15, 190-4, the society was incorporated as a church 
and continued to hold services in the Library. 

In December, 1909, the lot upon which the present church stands 
was purchased from Mrs. Houston. 

In August, 1911, at sunrise, its members assembled at the corner 
of Franklin Avenue and Washington Place to witness the laying of 
the corner-stone of their new church home. The building was com- 
pleted in April, 1912, and the opening services were held on the first 
Sunday of May, 1912. 

The Reading Room and a free loan library are now maintained in 
the church building. 

The estimated valuation on the church building and property is 
$26,800. 

Benevolences are represented in gifts of money disbursed through 
individual members of the church. 

BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH 

The West Side Community along Doremus and Ackerman Avenues, 
leading towards Glen Rock from Godwin Avenue, was one of the earlier 
real estate developments. 

There are many prosperous German Lutherans numbered with these 
residents and, togetlier with others in different localities of our Village 
having the same religious faith, felt the need of a church organization 
that could foster the religious doctrines and policy of the powerful 
Lutheran denomination, which stands for Evangelical truth and prac- 
tice. 

The Rev. Mr. Gurcheke of West Hoboken, while ministering at Mid- 
land Park, inaugurated the movement that resulted in services being 
held in the library room of the First National Bank, January, 1905. 
The Rev. S. S. Steehholz of St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Paterson 
continued these services, later to be followed by the present pastor, 
the Rev. Frederick Albert Ottman. 

The church organization was effected January 20, 1907, and the 
Sunday School founded on November 13, 1910. 

The corner-stone of the present beautiful church on Doremus Avenue 
was laid on September 29, 1912, and the dedication took place on 
March 30, 1913. 

The property represents a valuation of $10,000. There are 95 com- 
municants and 165 adherents. In the church year ending in 1916, the 
congregation contributed $400 for various benevolences and disbursed 
$1,500 for current expenses. 

MOUNT BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH ( COLORED) 

This church was organized on January 4, 1905, with a membership 
of fifteen persons, by the Rev. A. J. Hubbard, who was called as its 
first pastor and who has since continued as such. 

86 



PAST AND PRESENT 



In March, 1907, the church was successful in purchasing a plot of 
ground on Ackerman Avenue, the cost of which was paid in cash. 

During the same year, the present building was completed at a 
cost, including the ground, building and furnishings, of $5,500, the 
amount of indebtedness placed upon the building being paid off dur- 
ing 1909. 

Since its organization, 200 members have been added to its roll and 
the church stands today free of all debt. 

WEST SIDE COLLEGIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

This is the youngest of the church organizations of the Village. 
It is the outgrowth of a need which the west side of the town felt for 
a Bible school to serve the children of the community who were practi- 
cally prohibited from attending the established Bible schools by reason 
of the dangerous grade crossing which existed until the new station 
improvements were under way. There had been desultory talk of 
establishing a new church and Bible school on the west side for many 
years, but it was not until the fall of 1912 that the plan assumed 
concrete form with the starting of a little, school in the Ridgewood 
Preparatory School building. Heights Road near Monte Vista Place. 
The Rev. Isaac J. Lansing, D.D., preached a number of sermons to 
the parents of children in the new Bible school and after some con- 
sideration, it was determined to organize a new church. 

The old First Presbyterian Church, at East Ridgewood and Pleas- 
ant Avenues, was at that time without a pastor so, by an arrangement 
with that organization, it was agreed to found a new church on the 
collegiate plan, with the Rev. Dr. Lansing serving both. The First 
Presbyterian Church changed its name to the Kenilworth Collegiate 
Presbyterian Church and the new organization of the west side adopted 
the name of the West Side Collegiate Presbyterian Church when it 
was formally organized and accepted by the Presbytery of Jersey City 
at a meeting in Prospect Hall on October 9, 1912. At that time, 65 
persons were received into membership, of whom only seven came from 
other Ridgewood churches. 

The plot at the southwest corner of Franklin Avenue and Monroe 
Street was purchased and ground broken for the initial unit of the 
building to be erected. This unit was dedicated on April 27, 1913, 
services in the meantime being held in the Ridgewood Preparatory 
School building. The rapid growth of the Bible school made necessary 
the building of a pair of units during the summer of 1915 and they 
were dedicated on October 3rd of that year. 

At the present time the membership of the church is about 180. 
The membership of the Bible school is about 250 in the attending 
departments and 100 in the cradle roll and home departments ; a total 
of about 350. The women's work of the church is cared for by the 
Woman's Guild, with a membership of 100. The guild has conducted 
a number of exceptionally successful sales and has contributed liberally 
both to the building funds of the church and its benevolences, besides 
being a center for social intercourse. 

87 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The Men's Club is a purely social organization which has built up 
a lively fraternal spirit among the men of the community. The club 
has established a reputation for the excellent and unique character of 
the entertainments it has provided. 

The Christian Endeavor Society is a live organization numbering 
about 90 active and associate members. 

UPPER RIDGEWOOD RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES 

Holland Church 

About twenty-five years ago, in Upper Ridgewood, near the junc- 
tion of Glen Avenue and Monroe Street, a small church was built by 
the Hollanders, who lived in that vicinity, in which services were 
conducted in the Dutch language. 

The organization continued its work until a few years ago when the 
society disbanded. The building was torn down about two years ago. 

As the church was organized by John W. Spikerboor, the locality 
was called, in his honor, Spikertown. 

The Community Church Society 

The Community Church Society of Upper Ridgewood is a mission, 
as yet unorganized beyond a local board of seven men selected from 
40 families and 120 adherents. This body is really an Executive Com- 
mittee with the usual functions, but with more extended authority than 
is ordinarily delegated to such a committee. 

The weekly gathering of worshippers and workers is held in a neat 
chapel loaned by the Home Mission Board of the Reformed Church 
in America, from which the Society also receives supplementary finan- 
cial aid in maintaining the work. The Consistory of the First Re- 
formed Church of Ridgewood has general oversight over the organ- 
ization. 

There are 61 on the roll of the Bible school, of which Mr. Clarence 
Wyckoff of Upper Ridgewood is Superintendent. 

During the last church year the Society contributed $200 for gen- 
eral and missionary benevolences, and more than $1,000 for current 
expenses. 

On May 1, 1913, the Rev. John A. Terhune, whose residence is on 
West Ridgewood Avenue, was called to minister to this religious society 
in conjunction with the recently organized Mission Church at Ho-Ho- 
Kus, under the general superintendence of the Paramus Reformed 
Church. 

The Upper Ridgewood Society, while yet unorganized as a church 
proper, is encouraged to anticipate in the near future the official equip- 
ment its continued prosperity warrants. 



CHAPTER VI 
BUSINESS INTERESTS 

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 

A LARGE tract of laud on the north side of Ridgewood Avenue 
was owned by Henry Van Eniburgh. By his will he left to his 
son, George, the southerly half of his farm, which extended from Pear- 
sail's Grove to a point across the track, some distance west of Heights 
Road and which contained 109.57 acres. This tract was sold in 1853 to 
Captain Samuel Dayton and at a later date was plotted. 

The northerly half of the Henry Van Emburgh farm, devised by 
him to his son, Peter Van Emburgh, was also purchased in 1853 by 
Captain Dayton and in the same year was sold to Samuel Graydon 
and Benjamin F. Robinson. 

These purchases by Captain Dayton and Messrs. Graydon and Rob- 
inson were the earliest realty transactions in the development of the 
hamlet. Prior to these almost the whole of Ridgewood was owned by 
about twenty men, most of whom were descendants of the early Dutch 
settlers. 

The Dayton, Graydon and Robinson families were the first resi- 
dents of New York City to settle in Ridgewood. They were attracted 
to the hamlet by the greater freedom of suburban life which they 
experienced during the years 1850, 1851, and 1852, while summer resi- 
dents at the old Doctor Hopper home in Ho-Ho-Kus. 

About 1860 additional residents from New York City came to the 
hamlet, among them being William Libby, A. J. Cameron, James 
Keeley, and John Walton and sons. About this time Cornelius Shuart 
purchased a portion of the Westervelt property and was the first in 
the town to lay out land in building lots. While it is true that Captain 
Dayton was the first to plot the land, Shuart was the first to file a map. 

In 1866, T. V. Terhune purchased a tract of land bounded by Ridge- 
wood and Franklin Avenues and Oak and Walnut Streets, where in 
1867 he erected the first dwelling house to be built after the Village 
had been laid out into streets. 

The development of the Village continued and numerous houses 
were built until the year 1875, when a financial depression resulted 
in the abandonment of many homes and a stagnation of business of 
every kind. 

In 1880, a public sale of property comprising the Kidder Estate 
inaugurated a real estate movement on a larger scale than the Village 
had ever experienced. The house then belonging to the Kidder prop- 
erty is now owned and occupied by Dr. J. T. DeMund. The property 
was purchased by several gentlemen. Mr. Peter Ackerman secured a 
large portion of it which he immediately began to improve and place 
upon the market, the Reformed Church buying the first plot of one 
acre uncleared. 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Other lots were offered for sale and additional streets were laid out, 
sidewalks built, and general improvements were made. 

In 1892, Thomas W. White acquired by purchase a large tract north- 
west of the depot, which he named Ridgewood Heights. He proceeded 
to develop the section and, after the opening of Franklin Avenue, the 
first house was built on land sold by Mr. White to Mr. Lucius Smith 
for his mother, Mrs. Junius A. Smith. The Smith family lived there 
until Lucius Smith died, when the house was rented to the present 
tenant, Mr. Sykes. It is still the property of the Smith Estate. 

The second lot of the W^hite tract was sold to J. Bolles Smith, who 
built the house "The Knoll", recently purchased and remodelled by 
Mayor Garber on the south side of the avenue. Mr. White later built 
for his own occupancy, "The Oaks," now owned by Mrs. O'Neill, and 
it was due to his efforts that the attractiveness of this section was brought 
to the notice of men who bought and substantially improved several 
of the finest residential tracts in the Village. 

Between 1907 and 1911 occurred the largest development of real 
estate in the history of the Village, when an average of one hundred 
new homes a year were constructed. During the period from 1912 
to 1915, an average of thirty-five new homes a year were completed, 
and in 1916 about fifty more were built, the increase since 1911 having 
been along lines of normal growth. 

In more recent land developments parts of the Village have been 
laid out by real estate interests in the form of residential parks. The 
first of these, known as Kathawood Park, is situated on the west side 
of the Village, south of Godwin Avenue, while south of this section is 
Lincoln Park running to Lincoln Avenue. 

The section just wxst of the Erie tracks includes what is popularly 
and appropriately known as the "Heights", while on its western slope 
is Wastena Park, both sections being traversed by winding roads and 
adorned with a natural growth of forest trees. 

Prospect Park on the southerly side of the Village consists of thirty 
acres of land divided into half-acre plots, and contains one of the finest 
beech groves to be found in Bergen County. 

Woodside Park, including Woodside Avenue, Ivy Place and Linden 
Street, is within eight minutes' walk of the center of the Village and 
overlooks the valley both to the east and west. 

Floral Park is on the east side of Van Dien Avenue, in the imme- 
diate vicinity of Kenilworth School and the electric road station at 
Spring Avenue. It commands one of the best views of the historic 
Paramus Valley. 

Fairview Park is on Harrison Avenue near the school and trolley 
station and embraces fifty acres of fine sandy soil. 

That part of Ridgewood lying north of Cameron Lane and west of 
the Erie Railroad, is now known as Upper Ridgewood and, before its 
development a few years ago, was mainly a pasture and woodland. 
Its advantages of altitude and unsurpassed views are supplemented 
by its proximity to the Ho-Ho-Kus station of the Erie Railroad, whose 
property forms the dividing line between the two municipalities. 

Each of these localities may have its own peculiar charm but all 

90 



PAST AND PRESENT 



have practically submerged their individuality in the Ridgewood spirit 
of progressiveness which they have helped to advance. While the tan- 
gible lines of some are still in evidence and are referred to as geo- 
graphical sections of the Village, there is no dividing line between the 
interests of any section or part of Ridgewood, the people being remark- 
ably united in their public spirit. 

MERCANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES 

Prior to the construction of the railroad, agriculture was the prin- 
cipal occupation of the community, New York and other neighboring 
cities providing a ready market for local products. 

At the time the Godwinville station was opened, there were three 
cotton mills in that settlement which is now called Midland Park and 
Wortendyke. The output of these mills together with the agricultural 
products provided business for the new station, the natural result of 
which was the drawing of the people to it as a commercial center. 

The first building erected after the opening of the station, although 
occupied by P. J. Hopper as a dwelling, was also used by him as a 
general store. He was, therefore, the first to engage in a mercantile 
enterprise in the neighborhood. This building was located where the 
Hutton building now stands, near the railroad tracks on Ridgewood 
Avenue. 

The second person to engage in mercantile pursuits was Cornelius 
Shuart, who built a store on the site of the Hopper building, removing 
the latter to the rear of the new structure and entering into the venture 
on a more extensive scale than did his predecessor. 

Shuart later sold the business to Albert Hopper and Casper Van 
Dien, brother of our present oldest citizen, John B. Van Dien. They 
were succeeded by P. E. Hopper, Mr. Totten, Mr. Gilfillan and Mr. 
Cruse. The building was destroyed by the fire of April, 1889, and the 
site remained unoccupied until the erection of the present Hutton 
building. 

About 1867 another grocery store was started by G. G. Van Dien 
and his brother, John B. Van Dien, on the site now occupied by the 
Wilsey building. The Van Diens also had a large lumber-yard between 
the railroad and Ridgewood and Franklin Avenues. They were suc- 
ceeded in the grocery trade first by John Westervelt and later by James 
Hammond, after which the building was devoted to other purposes, 
and with the construction of the present Wilsey building in 1934, it 
was removed to its present site on North Broad Street, and is known 
as the Ferris building. 

The first attempt to conduct a drug business in the Village was made 
by a German during the early sixties. He opened a store on South 
Maple Avenue, where the residence of Chas. Stoneall now stands, but 
the location was not near enough to the business center of the com- 
munity and so was unsuccessful. 

In 1868 a similar business was established by E. A. Wyatt, in the 
store now occupied by the 0. K. Market, on the corner of Ridgewood 
Avenue and Chestnut Street. In 1892 the business was purchased from 

91 



RIBGEWOOB, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

the widow of Mr. Wyatt by H. A. Tice, who remained at that location 
until 1897, when he moved to his present site on the opposite corner. 
The building he removed to was destroyed by tire in 1900 but w^as im- 
mediately rebuilt and is now known as the Pioneer Building. 

The lumber business on the south side of Ridgewood Avenue was 
established by Cornelius Shuart about 1869, and about 1874 he sold it 
to John G. Hopper and his brother, Albert G. Hopper. It again be- 
came Mr. Shuart 's property and in 1878 its present proprietor, Isaac 
E. Hutton, re-established the business. 

In 1870, Abraham Terhune built and conducted a grocery store and 
meat business at the corner of Ridgewood and Maple Avenues. He 
discontinued this in 1874 and started the Ridgewood Avenue Hotel. 
This was destroyed by fire in 1876 and immediately afterward the 
present Rouclere Hotel was built. 

In 1872, T. V. Terhune established a general merchandise and gro- 
cery business at the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street, which 
he conducted for a long period. The store is occupied at present by the 
James Butler Grocery Company. 

A meat market, previously conducted by John J. Bogert, was pur- 
chased by his brother-in-law, Cornelius Crouter, in 1874. In 1889 the 
building was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt during the same year 
and Mr. Crouter continued the business until he disposed of it in 1914 
and retired. The store is located on Ridgewood Avenue between the 
Hutton and Moore (Zabriskie) buildings and is now the office of W. H. 
Moore's plumbing establishment. 

A short time prior to 1876, Abram J. Zabriskie erected the brick 
building on the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street, which 
is now known as the Moore Building. On its completion it was occupied 
by the firm of Zabriskie & Hawes, established in 1872-3 by his son, John 
J. Zabriskie, and Samuel W. Hawes, who conducted a grocery business 
in the premises now the real estate offices of Stevens & Tetor. 

In the early 80 's the doorsill of the main entrance to the store was 
used by the United States Department of Geographical Surveys for the 
first marker placed in Ridgewood, to indicate its elevation above sea- 
level. On the completion of the Ridgewood Trust Company's building, 
the marker Avas removed to the sill of the main entrance of the new 
building and shows an elevation of 134.55 feet. The only other marker 
I'laced by the Government in Ridgewood is on the bridge of the Erie 
Railroad over Cameron Lane and shows an elevation at that point of 
153.97 feet. 

Some time prior to 1876, Whritnour & Colfax had a general mer- 
chandise store on the site of the present E. B. Van Horn livery, grain 
and feed business on Broad Street, the upper floor of the building being 
known as Wilson's Hall. This building was destroyed by fire in 1881. 
The building now occupied by Ackerman Bros., the grocer.^anen, on 
the north side of Ridgewood Avenue, was put up by John B. Van Dien 
and was occupied by the firm then known as Edward Whritnour & Son, 
Mr. Colfax having previously died. Upon the death of Edward Whrit- 
nour, the business was continued by his son, Mathias (Tice) Whritnour, 
until succeeded by the present occupants. 

92 



PAST AND PRESENT 



After the destruction of the former store of Whritnour & Colfax, 
the site remained unoccupied until the early part of 1898, when E. B. 
Van Horn erected the present building and established his livery, feed, 
and grain business. 

About 1876 Van Emburgh & Post operated a steam saw and planing 
mill on the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street, part of the 
building being used for the carpenter shop of C. D. Ackerman. This 
building was also destroyed in the fire of 1881. At that time it was 
being used as a blacksmith shop by Benjamin Eglin, who now conducts 
a similar business on Hudson Street, and as a wheelwright shop by 
John A. Marinus. 

In 1882, the present Ryerson building was erected upon the site. 
This building, besides providing for stores on the ground floor, had liv- 
ing rooms on the second floor, and a meeting room on the third floor 
which was, for a long period, the home of the Masons. 

The corner store now occupied by F. H. Adam, the grocer, Avas first 
occupied by John F. Cruse, also as a grocery store, and at one time con- 
tained the Village Post Office. The store now occupied by the restaurant 
(«f Caramella & Morbclli was used until 1899 by Mrs. Susan E. Ryerson 
and lier sister. Miss Kate A. Bortic, as a dry-goods and notion store. 

The coal and wood business now conducted by George R. Young and 
Richard Bortic, the business office of which is located in the Rj^erson 
building, was established in 1888 by E. F. Ryerson, who conducted the 
business in its present location until his death. It was taken over by 
the present firm during April, 1897. When first established, the coal 
yards Avere located for a short time on the Broad Street property, later 
occupied by the feed and grain business of J. H. Blauvelt. About a 
year after its establishment, Mr. Ryerson moved the yards to their 
present location on Franklin Avenue, along the tracks of the Erie 
Railroad. 

Some years prior to 1876, G. J. Snyder constructed a small building 
on the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Prospect Street, the present 
site of the First National Bank building, Avhere, for a number of years, 
lie conducted a meat business. At about the same time he erected a 
larger building, with living rooms above, on Ridgewood Avenue, adja- 
cent to the corner building, the ground floor of which was used by J. 
Seiber as a bakery. When the First National Bank building was started, 
Ihese buildings were removed to their present location on Prospect 
Street adjoining the present Post Office building and are now occupied, 
the smaller one by the Ridgewood Tire Company and the other by 
Koblintz, the tailor. 

The fii'st plumbing and tinsmith business was established prior to 
1876 by Bergman & Duffy in the store adjoining the old Van Dien 
liuilding on the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut Street. The 
firm also carried a small line of hardware. The business was later con- 
tinued by M. C. Duffy. 

The earliest nursery in the vicinity of Ridgewood w^s started by 
Henry W. Hales in 1874. At first the business was conducted on a 
comparatively small scale, but it soon developed to a point where it not 

93 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

only took care of the local trade but supplied cut flowers to the New 
York market as well. 

In 1876, the business interests located in what is now the center of 
Ridgewood consisted of three general stores, a plumbing shop, two 
blacksmiths, two wheelwrights, a periodical store, a butcher shop, a 
tailor, an apothecary, and a nursery. 

The Paramus section of the Village was in a modest way a business 
centre about 1870 and for some years thereafter. Jacob D. Van 
Emburgh established a grocery store on the property just west of the 
old Naugle Hotel. This was successfully conducted by Mr. Van Em- 
burgh, his brother, Henry, John E. Zabriskie, John H. Snyder, and 
John J. Hopper, the latter a son-in-law of J. D. Van Emburgh. Mr. 
Hopper at a voluntary auction disposed of his stock. 

At about the same time, John J. Ackerman, later proprietor of the 
old Naugle Hotel, established a large business, building carriages, 
wagons, and sleighs, as well as doing a general blacksmith, wheehvright, 
and carriage painting business and employing about half a dozen men. 

During the same period a harness maker and a shoemaker also estab- 
lished themselves in this section. 

The coal and grain business conducted for the past three years by 
S. Nagle, Jr., on the property of W. H. Moore on Broad Street, is on 
the premises occupied by the grain business conducted by J. H. Blauvelt 
for a period of eighteen years prior to the establishment of the present 
business. 

Since its early days the mercantile interests of the Village have de- 
veloped along natural and normal lines until today every line of activity 
required by the life of a modern suburban village is represented. Al- 
most all of the business interests are centered in the Village and the 
principal buildings erected for these purposes with the date of con- 
struction, ai'e as follows: 

On the west side of the track: 

Wilsey Square from Franklin to Godwin Avenue, 

Osman, 1913; Play House, 1913; Van Orden's Garage, 1909; 
two-story store and apartment block, 1916. 
On Godwin Avenue, Morgan, 1903. 

On the east side of the track: 

Ridgewood Avenue, south side, from the tracks to Broad Street. 
Hutton, 1898; Moore (Crouter) prior to 1874, rebuilt, 1889; 
Moore (Zabriskie), prior to 1876. 

Broad to Prespect Streets, 

Ryerson, 1882; Hopper, 1908; Ridgewood News, 1900; Ridge- 
wood House-Hotel, 1870; Mead, 1903; and First National 
Bank, 1903. 

Prespect to Oak Streets, 

Ridgewood Ti-ust Companv, 1910; Quackenbush, 1909; Green- 
law, 1909; Waller, 1915; and Thorton, 1912. 
94 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Kidgewood Avenue, north side from Broati to Chestnut Streets, 
Wilsey, 1914 ; Hennion, 1890 ; Van Dion Block, 1891 and 1893 ; 
Ackerman, 1882 ; Duffy, prior to 1876 ; and Van Dien, prior 
to 1868. 

Chestnut to Oak Streets, 

Pioneer, 1895, rebuilt 1900; Hennion, 1894:; Hanks Block (be- 
tween 1893 to 1903) ; and on the opposite corner, Terhune, 
1872. 

Prospect Street, west side, 

The Hegeman building, 1908; Post Office, 1912; and on the 
east side Prospect Hall Block, 1903. 

INDUSTRIES 

While Eidgewood is wholly residential in character, having no fac- 
tories or other industrial enterprises employing large numbers of opera- 
tives, it was at one time the home of the "Favorite Brand" rubber 
packing business. This was in a two-story brick building located on the 
east side of North Maple Avenue, opposite Park Court and at present 
used by the Packer Auto Company. The building was built by the heirs 
of John R. Terhune in 1873, near the site formerly occupied by three 
other factories within a period of twenty-one years. The first building 
was used as a grist mill for nearly half a century, and in February, 
1853, was destroyed by fire. A new frame building was put up during 
the same year and leased to J. J. Zabriskie for use as a cotton mill. 
This also was burned in 1859. 

In 1866, ground was broken for a new frame structure which was 
leased to Edwin Taylor, of Kensico, N. Y., for manufacturing purposes. 
This building was burned in 1873 and, in the. same year, the present 
building was erected and leased in 1879 to the Peerless Manufacturing 
Company for the manufacture of rubber goods. It was occupied by 
this company until about 1886 when, more space being needed on ac- 
count of the expansion of their business, their enterprise was removed 
to New Durham, N. J. The building was practically unused until re- 
cently when it was occupied by the Packer Auto Company. 

At one time Ridgewood also contained the woolen mills of G. Morrow 
& Son, which were established in 1853 and located at the southeast 
corner of the Village near the Susquehanna Railroad, just below what 
is now known as Van Emburgh's Pond. 

In the extreme northern portion of the Village, near Waldwick, was 
located the paper and twine manufactory of White Company, which was 
destroyed by fire about 1880. 

In the same locality, and on the road leading from Waldwick to 
Wyckoff, a factory for the manufacture of wax for artificial flowers and 
honeycomb was started in the early 70 's by A. II. Bender, who had pur- 
chased the privilege from Mi's. M. C. McCall, of Edinburgh, Scotland. 
He continued the business for about ten years during which time his 
product received first prize at the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876, as 
did flowers made from it by Miss Emma Hopper, now Mrs. George W. 
Beckley, of Waldwick. 

95 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 

Banks 

The first effort to establish a banking institution in Ridgewood was 
made by The Village Improvement Association, when for a period of 
nearly three years prior to the organization of the First National Bank, 
a committee of this association had charge of the Ridgewood Branch 
of the Penny Provident Bank of New York, with a list of depositors 
approximating 100 children. Stamps representing cash were exchanged 
and redeemed when the amount reached $10.00. 

The First National Bank 

In 1899 The First National Bank of Ridgewood was organized, its 
first officers being: 

President Peter Ackerjian, 

Vice-President H. S. Patterson, 

Cashier L. F. Spencer, 

Teller W. C. Banta. 

The business was at tirst conducted in a building on the site now 
occupied by Gordon's barber shop on West Ridgewood Avenue. This 
was destroyed by fire in March, 1900, and the bank was removed to 
temporary quarters in the Banta plumbing shop in the Hutton building 
near the railroad. At the end of four months it was again removed to 
the building on Prospect Street, now occupied by Max Koblintz, the 
tailor. The present quarters were constructed and occupied in 1903. 

Ridgewood Trust Company 

The Ridgewood Trust Company was organized in 1906, the first offi- 
cers being: 

President .Jidge Cornelius Doremus 

Vice-President James W. Pearsall. 

Treasurer W. J. Fullerton, 

Slerretary L. F. Spencer. 

Business was conducted for about six months in a portion of the 
First National Bank quarters, and later, in 1907, was moved to what is 
now the Weber jewelry store, on West Ridgewood Avenue. In 1910 
the present. building was completed and occupied. 

Building and Loan Associations 

Ridgewood has three building and loan associations, all of which 
have been managed wisely, economically, and satisfactorily. The busi- 
ness done is strictly local and hundreds of residents of the Village, who 
have taken advantage of the facilities afforded by the associations, are 
today owners of their own homes, or are in a fair Avay to be so. With 
a lot paid for, a building and loan association is usually willing to ad- 
vance 80% of the actual cost of building a house. This 80% is returned 
to the association in monthly payments for a period extending over 
approximately 130 months. If members do not build, the associations 

96 



PAST AND PRESENT 



provide a means of saving, with the privilege of withdrawal or of bor- 
rowing at any time. 

The Eidgcwood Building and Loitn Associaiion 

The Ridgewood Building and Loan Association was organized in 
1885 and is the oldest organization of its character in the Village. The 
first officers were: 

President James N. Norris, 

^'ice-President E. F. Ryersox, 

Secretary G. S. Whitty, 

Treasurer C. P. Crol TER. 

The Co-operative Building and Loan Association 

The Co-operative Building and Loan Association was organized on 
February 1, 1891, witli the following officers: 

President Joseph \\'. Edwards, 

Vice-President Chas. W. Low, 

Secretary Isaac M. Wall, 

Treasurer Hudson Campbell. 

The Glen Rock Building and Loan Association 

The Glen Rock Building and Loan Association was incorporated 
March 25, 1907, with the primary object of furnishing an association 
for the residents of Glen Rock. The office is located in Ridgewood, as a 
majority of its members are residents of that Village. 

The first officers were : 

President X. S. Cl'bberly, 

y ice-President James B. Chrlstopher, 

Secretary G. T. Hopper. 

Treasurer Johx A. Marinus. 

MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROFP^SSIONS 

The Medical Profession 

In the early history of many of the colonies, the art of healing was 
practiced chiefly l)y the clergy. The care of the sick came naturally 
within the sphere of their parochial duties, and many of them were 
distinguished for their knowledge of medicine and were authors of some 
of the earliest medical papers printed in America. In some instances 
the schoolmaster was the physician and surgeon of the neighborhood. 

New Jersey had among its early medical men a few who had received 
their training in the schools of Europe. By far the greater number, 
however, having no liberal education, had lived a year or two with a 
practitioner of some soi't, I'cad the few available books on medicine and 
then, assuming the title of doctor, offei'ed themselves to the people as 
competent to cure disease. They relied mucb u])()n tbe use of herbs and 
roots. 

Every neighborhood seems to have had some one who could bleed and 
extract teeth. Occasionally a liandy man would straighten a cracked 

!I7 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

bone, and be given great credit and the title of doctor for doing so. In 
nearly all cases of sickness the remedies employed were the growth of 
the soil, very little medicine, as it is knoAvn today, being nsed. 

Among the Hollanders of Bergen County, there was little need of 
physicians for many years after the first settlement began. The climate 
Avas healthy and the settlers were of a hardy and enduring type. 
Malaria was comparatively unknown. All of the early writers and 
correspondents who have described the condition of the country, eitlicr 
in books or in letters to their friends abroad, united in pronouncing 
East Jersey a very healthy country. Aside from this, the scarcity of 
early physicians in Bergen County is accounted for by the fact that the 
more wealthy of the citizens were in the habit of obtaining their medical 
attention from other places, such as New York, Elizabethtown, and 
Newark. 

Holland seems to have sent forth no properly qualified physicians, 
although her university at Leyden was among the most renowned in 
Europe for chemistry and kindred sciences. The science of medicine 
was in its infancy all over the civilized world. What is now understood 
by that term has been the growth of the last 125 years. There was 
nothing approximating a school of medicine in America; not even a 
course of lectures, until the middle of the eighteenth century, when tlie 
first medical school in the country was founded in Philadelphia in 1765. 
Two years later New York established her first school of medicine in 
connection with King's College, New York City. 

The year 1688 is the first in which we hear of any doctor in what is 
now Bergen County. Dr. Johannes, the man referred to, lived in what 
is now Hackensack (in the then County of Essex, which extended only 
as far west as the Hackensack River), Bergen County. 

Dr. Van Emburgh must have practiced in or about Hackensack be- 
fore 1709, as a deed was filed that year to his widow. 

The next one of whom any account is found is Dr. Abraham Van 
Buskirk, who lived at Paramus, and was surgeon in the First Militia 
of Bergen County, February 17, 1776. In July of that year the Provin- 
cial Congress ordered that the treasurer pay to Dr. Van Buskirk and 
two others the sum of 335 pounds, 10 shillings, being the amount due 
for 79 stands of arms at 4 pounds, 10 shillings apiece. Before the year 
was out he had gone over to the British, family and all. He was leader 
of many Tory raids in Bergen County ; one raid through Closter in 1779. 

Joseph Sackett, Jr., who practiced in Paramus was one of the seven- 
teen who signed the Instruments of Association and Constitution of the 
Medical Society of New Jersey in 1766, which society this year cele- 
bi'ated its 160th Anniversary, being the oldest medical society in this 
country. 

Many of the early physicians covered large circuits, often being 
away from home for several days at a time. They rendered efficient 
service to the public in the days of stage coaches, spinning wheels and 
tallow dips. While much of their system of medication today is obso- 
lete, it served nevertheless as a stepping-stone to modern practice, and 
it would be unjust to decry their methods. 

At one period the country was overrun with itinerant doctors, 

98 



PAST AND PRESENT 



natural bonesetters and others of like character. Many clergymen took 
up the study of medicine which they practiced along with their ministry. 
On the tombstone of tlie Kev. Robert McKean, of Perth Amboy, who 
was also the first president of the New Jersey Medical Society, is in- 
scribed: "An unshaken friend, an agreeable companion, a rational 
divine, a skilful physician, and in every relation in life a truly benevo- 
lent and honest man." 

Dr. Elijah Rosencrantz, graduated from Rutgers College in 1791, 
studied theology for a period of sixteen months with the Rev. Peter 
Studdiford, whereupon he was granted a license to preach. After 
preaching one sermon he decided that he was not fitted for the ministry. 
He took up the study of medicine and in 1799 received from two judges 
of the State Supreme Court a license to practice as a physician and 
surgeon in the State of New Jersey. In 1800 he purchased the Hermi- 
tage, formerly the home of IMadam Provost, now the Rosencrantz home- 
stead, where he began practice. He held the appointment of surgeon 
to the Second Regiment, Bergen Countv Brigade of Militia. He died 
in 1832. 

Dr. Garret D. Banta, born in 1792, practiced in Paramus and it is 
interesting to note that his wiie was in the habit of accompanying him 
on his rounds and aiding in his professional work. Dr. "W. L. Vroom 
has now in his possession the old mortar and pestle with which Dr. 
Banta compounded his prescriptions. The eagle over the pulpit of the 
old Paramus Church was presented bv Dr. Banta in 1800. 

Dr. Henry G. Banta, son of Dr. Garret D. Banta, born in 1815, fol- 
lowed his father in the practice of medicine and also located in Paramus. 
He died in 1876. It is mentioned that his rounds often requii-^d two or 
three days before returning home and that Avherever meal time found 
him he would make himself welcome. Frequentlj^ upon leaving a pa- 
tient, he Avould take along a sack of oats or corn for his horses, this 
often constituting the only compensation for medical services. 

Dr. DuBois Hasbrook, a cousin of Charles Hasbrook of Hackensack, 
was located on the Paramus Road, at the old Lane place, about 1854. 

Dr. 0. Blenis, located on the Paramus Road, now the Yermilye home- 
stead, previous to 1864 and later moved to Saddle River. 

Dr. John T. De Mund, born in 1840, was assistant surgeon of the 
58th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, in 1863, and began the practice 
of medicine in Paramus in 1864. He came to Ridgewood in 1878 and 
continued practice until 1914, when he retired. Upon locating in Ridge- 
wood his office was in a small ])uilding adjacent to the site of the Wilsey 
Building. In 1888 the building was removed to its present site at the 
entrance to the grounds of his residence on Ridgewood Avenue. 

Dr. George B. Parker, a surgeon of the Civil War, came to Ridge- 
wood about 1876. He was the founder of City Point Hospital. It is 
related that President Grant said to him: "Dr. Parker, if there is any 
position you wash, I Avould be glad to make the appointment." The 
doctor in his characteristic way answered: "Thank you, Mr. President, 
I am a Democrat." Dr. Parker long treasured an axe with which, at 
the earnest solicitation of a number of officers. President Lincoln split 

99 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

a rail in his tent one night, to demonstrate that he had not lost his 
ability in that line. 

Dr. William Francis, born in P^ngland, resided in what is now the 
Terhune house on Ridgewood Avenue, and practiced in Ridgewood for 
a number of years. He died in 1888. The doctor, accompanied by a 
huge mastiff in his walks about town was for years a familiar figure. 

Dr. Wm. L. Vroom came to Ridgewood in 1888, taking up the prac- 
tice of Dr. Francis. In 1893 Dr. Vroom took possession of the old stone 
house on Ridgewood Avenue, which is one of Ridgewood 's landmarks, 
being the second oldest residence. The deed embracing this property, 
given by the "Lords Proprietors of the Province of East Jersey" and 
dated 1698, is still well preserved. It is elaborately engrossed on 
sheepskin. 

Dr. George M. Ockford was next to establish himself in Ridgewood, 
coming from Lexington, Ky., in 1891. He has the honor of being the 
present Postmaster of the Village. 

Next in order are : 

Dr. Charles W. Harreys, who l)egan practice in this Village in 1898. 

Dr. Harry S. Willard, who began practice in 1898, soon giving up 
general practice to devote himself to the speciality of the eye. 

Dr. Cornelius A. De Mund, son of Dr. J. T. De Mund, began practice 
in 1900, following his father, whose practice he has now taken up. 

Dr. Harry H. Pettit reached Ridgewood in 1906 and located on 
Franklin Avenue. 

Dr. H. A. Bonynge, located on Prospect Street, began practice in 
1907. 

Dr. William C. Craig, who associated himself with Dr. AVm. L. 
Vroom, began practice in 1909. 

Dr. F. W. Crilbart was next in order and located on West Ridgewood 
Avenue in 1912. 

Dr. Wm. Tomkins located in LTpper Ridgewood in 1912. 

Dr. Walter F. Keating located on Franklin Avenue in 1915. 

The Ridgewood Medical Society, consisting of the resident physi- 
cians and those of the immediate vicinity, w^as organized in 1911, the 
object l)eing the promotion of scientific discussion and social welfare. 

The Ridgewood Hosi)ital was incorporated in 1911 with the follow- 
ing Board of Directors: W. L. Vroom, M.D., F. von Moschzisker, W. C. 
Craig, M.D., Judge Cornelius Doremus, and James M. Craig. 

The hospital is located on West Ridgewood Avenue, adjoining the 
office of Dr. Vroom, and is conducted for the physicians of Ridgewood 
and vicinity in order that they may properly care for their patients 
who require hospital treatment. 

The Denial Profession 

The science of dentistry embraces the treatment of diseases and 
lesions of the teeth and the supplying of substitutes for such of these 
organs as ai-e lost. As in the early days of the Medical Profession, 
dentistry was practiced to a large extent by persons engaged in other 
pursuits and without any professional education. This was due pri- 
marily to the fact that mere tooth-drawing constituted the surgical 

100 



PAST AND PRESENT 



dentistry of tlie times and the opei'ation demanded niuseular strength 
and manual dexterity rathei- than anatomical knowledge or surgical 
skill. 

The very apparent need of educating individuals for the profession 
resulted in the establishment of courses of studies in various colleges 
and institutions throughout the country. Now, under the laws of the 
various states, only those who can produce a certificate that the required 
course has been completed may take the examination for a license to 
l)ractice. 

In the early days of Ridgewood, dentists who had located in the 
neighboring numicipalities of Hackensack, Paterson, and New York, 
cared for the needs of the villagers. The first dentist to establish in 
the Village was Dr. Walter Van Emburgh, who began practice January 
1, 1894, and continued until June 10, 1914, when he retired. 

The next to open an of^ce Avas Dr. Harold J. White, who began 
practice on September 10, 1903. 

Shortly afterward Dr. Russell Suffern opened an of^ce, but only 
remained in the Village al)out three months. 

In the spring of 1909. Dr. G. W. La Li))erte began to practice and in 
the summei' of 1911 removed to Orange, N. J. 

During September, 1910, offtces were opened by Dr. Walter A. 
Traeey and Dr. Angelo Zabriskie. In October of the same year, Dr. 
G. A. Wessner established an of^ce, and Dr. W. S. H. Martin began to 
practice here during the early part of 1913. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Ridgewood has two weekly newspapers, one bi-monthly publication 
and one magazine issued every other week. The community's first news- 
paper was established in 1889 by William J. Tonkin and was issued 
monthly under the name of "The Ridgewood News." 

llie Bid ye wood News 

This paper was for some time printed in New York and its edi- 
torials and news articles were prepared b.v Mr. Tonkin as he ti-aveled 
between the Village and the City. Six months after its establishment, 
the News became a semi-monthly. At the end of the year, Mr. Tonkin 
decided to discontinue his work as a publisher and sold his paper to 
Leonard N. Taft, who was then station agent at Ridgewood for the Erie 
Railroad. The purchase price was $1.00. Mr. Taft innnediately in- 
stalled printing presses, type and other necessaiy materials in a room 
over Eglin's blacksmith shop and pul)lished Tlie News as a weekly. 

About a year later Jolm A. Ackerman became owner of the paper 
and pul)lished it until 1892 when he re-sold it to ^Ir. Taft. 

On Septeml)er 15, 1894, Frank A. Baxter and Joseph Babcock be- 
came proprietors of the paper. Several years later Mi-. Baxter pur- 
chased his partner's interest in the paper and continued to publish it 
until June 1, 1916, when he retired from journalistic work, disposing 
of his interests to Franklin Fishier, the present propi'ietor. 

101 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The Neu's was at first non-partisan in its politics, but in recent years 
has been consistently Democratic. 

The Ridgcivood Record 

In 1898 Mr. Leonard N. Taft, formerly owner of The Ridgeivood 
News, re-entered the newspaper business and established The Ridgewood 
Record, a weekly. After a brief period, he sold the paper to Eugene 
Ferrell, who published it until a fire put him out of business. Mr. Taft 
bought what remained of the plant at public sale and installed it in the 
carriage house in the rear of his residence at 76 Woodside Avenue. 
He then began the publication of a paper called The Ridgewood Herald. 

The Ridgeivood Herald 

This paper was published by Mr. Taft until August 15, 1905, when 
Brainard G. Smith secured possession. Mr. Smith brought to the Herald 
a ripe experience in newspaper work gained through fifteen years' 
service on the staff of the New York Sun. The editorial and news 
columns of the Herald since Mr. Smith's ownership have reflected the 
journalistic atmosphere which made the N©\v York Sun, during Charles 
Dana's regime, so justly famous. 

The Herald has been consistently Republican in politics and has been 
invaluable to the party in Bergen County. It owns its home, a sub- 
stantial structure of concrete block, at Hudson and Broad Streets, which 
was completed in August, 1912, and has a well-equipped modern print- 
ing plant. 

The Ridgewood Times 

The Ridgeivood Times was started in 1916 bj" J. Douglas Gessford, 
who sought to establish an independent weekly new^spaper of rather 
ambitious ideals. The first issue appeared February 19, 1916, as a four 
page, eight column paper. It was continued weekly until July 8, 1916, 
when it was permanently discontinued because the editor and his entire 
staff had joined the colors on the Mexican border as members of Com- 
pany L, Fifth New Jersey Infantry. 

The Arrow 

The Arrow is the publication of the Ridgewood High School and is 
devoted to dissemination of Ridgewood school news and the publication 
of meritorious articles, stories, poems, and papers written by students 
in the High School. It was the conception of the Class of 1908 and 
appeared originally as tlie year book of the class. The first issue was 
published under the editorial direction of Miss Nell Doremus, who had 
associated with her Mildred Hiler, Florence Kemp, Helen Van Buren, 
Lindley de Garmo, and William Ransome, the cover being designed by 
p]dgar G. Wandless of the Class of 1910. This publication aroused so 
much interest that three issues were published in 1912 and 1913. In 
1914, under the editorship of Olive Graham, The Arrow became a quar- 

102 



PAST AND PRESENT 



terly and the following year was issued bi-monthly and has so continued 
since. The Arrow presents many items of pertinent school interest 
which escape the attention of the newspapers of the Village. Its staff 
consists of twelve students of the High School with two members of the 
Faculty as advisors. 

The Editor 

The Editor, a publication accurately described by its sub-title, which 
is "The Journal of Information for Literary Workers," was founded 
ni January, 1895, by James Knapp Reeve, at Franklin, Ohio. Mr. 
Reeve published the magazine for ten years and then, having become 
associated with the Outing Publishing Company, turned the active man- 
agement of The Editor over to Leslie W. Quirk, who continued the work 
until 1909, when Mr. Reeve resumed the management of the periodical 
and moved the plant to Ridgewood, locating in the Pioneer Building. 
In 1911 William R. Kane acquired the controlling interest in the maga- 
zine. In 1913 it was published as a bi-monthly and later in the same 
year began to appear every other week. In 1914 the plant was removed 
to Glen Rock, but in December, 1916, it was again located in Ridgewood 
and is now established at 2-4 Godwin Avenue as the Station Place Press. 
A few months prior to this change, Mr. Arthur Tomalin, of Allendale, 
became associated with ]\Ir. Kane as publisher. The paper now has 
nearly 9,000 subscribers. 

The Editor Company also pul)lished The Threshold, a magazine of 
new names and things in literature, The Editor Quarterly, which con- 
sists of reprints of articles appearing originally in The Editor, books 
of value to writers, and maintains a Literary Bureau to assist writers, 
by criticism and advice. 

HOTELS, INNS, AND TAVERNS 

The old David Naugle Tavern, located about 500 feet north of Lin- 
wood Avenue, on the west side of the Paramus Road, was built about 
1790, by John A. Zabriskie, originally a residence. Mr. Zabriskie later 
turned the house into a tavern, which was one of the stopping places 
on the old Hobokcn-Goshcn stage route. After the Revolutionary War 
and during the early part of the Nineteenth Centurj'', in accordance 
with tlie custom of that time, the house was the headquarters of the 
citizens of the community when engaged in general military training 
under General Andrew H. Hopper, on what were known as "General 
Ti-aining Days". 

In 1809 the property, including 100 acres of land, was conveyed by 
Christian De Peyster to John A. Zabriskie. 

About 1849 it came into the possession of David B. Naugle, who 
conducted the premises as a hotel during the Civil War. On May 23, 
1905, F. H. Bogert bought the property, at a partition sale in the 
Sheriff's office at Hackensack. At that time it was and for more than 
twenty years had been conducted as the Ackerman Hotel by John J. 
Ackerman, as lessee of the David B. Naugle p]state. Mr. Ackerman 
was i)ermitted by the new owner to continue in possession until his 
death in the spring of 1913. His widow continued the business until 

103 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

the expiration of her license on September 1st of that year. Although 
a new license was granted by the court and Mr. Bogert was offered an 
increased rental for the property for hotel purposes, he declined the 
oft'er and thus terminated a hotel business long conducted on the site. 
The building was never again occupied and soon after the property 
passed out of the hands of Mr. Bogert, in 1915, it was torn down, the 
cellar at present marking its site. 

Henry Van Emburgh conducted a hotel in the building now known 
as "Maple Homestead", located about 1,000 feet north of the old Naugle 
Hotel on the Paramus Road. This business was discontinued at about 
the time Mr. Naugle took possession of his place. 

A number of years after the Revolutionary War, a hotel was built 
by a man named Bogert, on the present site of the Martin property, 
on the north side of Godwin Avenue opposite Lincoln Avenue. During 
the early 40 's, the place was conducted as a tavern by James Blauvelt, 
who was noted throughout the country-side for his efforts to discover 
the secret of perpetual motion, and his place was a center for the people 
of the neighborhood. 

About 1870, J. W. Halstead built the present Ridgewood House on 
West Ridgewood Avenue. At that time the Village was a mere hamlet 
and the hotel was looked upon as a very large affair. About two years 
later Abram G. Hopper opened the Franklin House, on the present site 
of the Ridgewood News ()t!ice, and continued it until a fire swept that 
block. In 1885 Mr. Hopper purchased the Ridgewood House and con- 
ducted it until his death. His family carried on the business for a 
short time and in 1906 its present occupant, Henry Zellweger, took 
possession. 

In 1870, Abram Terhune conducted a grocery and meat business at 
the corner of Maple and Ridgewood Avenues. In 1871 he obtained 
a license and opened a hotel known as the Ridgewood Avenue House, 
which burned in 1876. It was re-built at once and continued as an 
inn and tavern until its present proprietor, Harry Rouclere, took pos- 
session in 1893. He remodelled and refurnished it, added two stories, 
put in baths, toilets, and all improvements, changed the name to the 
Rouclere House and it soon became the best known hotel in Northern 
Jersey. It was a mecca for all bicycle parties and as the wheelmen 
at that time were numerous, the reputation of the house grew rapidly 
and as many as 400 dinners were often served in a day. 

Mr. Rouclere, tiring of the hotel Ijusiness, leased the house to Mr. 
Zellweger and returned to the theatrical business. Later he again leased 
it to Emil Meyers and at the expiration of the latter 's term, returned 
and once more remodelled and refurnislied the entire place, adding sev- 
eral private baths, a new grill, and a separate dining-room, which at 
the present time can seat more than 100 diners. 

About 1891, H. A. Herbert erected a building on Maple and Spring 
Avenues called the Herbert House and ran it for several years. It 
was afterward leased to Miller & Myers and later to S. J. Topping. 
Subsequently it was taken over by Van Nortwick & Gillfillen and the 
name was changed to the Village Inn. It is still under this pro- 
prietorship. 

104 



PAST AND PRESENT 



The first license granted in Ridgewood was issued to Casper Van 
Dien and Albert S. Hoi)i)er, who had a grocery store on the site of the 
present Hutton building, and conducted the licjuor business in a small 
building in the rear of tlie store. 

Public Utilities 

express service 

WeUs-Fdryo Companfi 

About 1888 the Wells-Fargo Express Company succeeded in extend- 
ing its service from Chicago to New York over the Erie Railroad. Pre- 
vious to that time all express matter entering Ridgewood was carried 
by the United States Express Company. 

Gradual improvements have been made, from time to time, and to- 
day Ridgewood is enjoying an efficient service with two deliveries daily 
covering the entire Village. 

GAS AND ELECTRIC SYSTEMS 

Gas 

The Ridgewood Gas Company was incorporated on April 24, 1900, 
the first directors being: 1). W. La Fetra, William R. Boj'ce, J. W. Pear- 
sail, B. C. Wooster, Theodore Victor, August P. Crouter, Lucius S. 
Willard, H. S. Willard, M.D., Arthur J. Hopper, Joseph P. Walker, 
S. W. N. Walker, W. W. Breakenridge, and F. A. Mallalieu. 

Of these directors the first nine were residents of Ridgewood and 
they elected as the first officers of the company: 

President D. W. La Fetra, 

Secretary Arthur J. Hopper, 

Treasurer August P. Crouter. 

Soon after the company was incorporated, work was begun on the 
plant located on Ackerman Avenue near the intersection of Doremus 
Avenue. Construction delays interfered with the completion of the 
plant until the following year, when it was placed in service. 

During 1903 the Board of Directors I'e-organized. D. W. La Fetra 
remained as President for two or three years longer, when he was suc- 
ceeded by J. W. Pearsall. Later A. C. Brooks served until the affairs 
of the companv were taken over bv the Public Service Gas Companv 
in July, 1910. " 

The first price of gas as established by the company in 1900 w^as 
$1.50 per 1,000 cubic feet. Prior to the taking over of the company by 
the Public Service Gas Company, the rate was reduced to $1.15 per 
1,000 cubic feet. Before tliis there was a cooking rate of 80 cents and 
a consuming rate of $1.25. 

When the Public Service Gas Company assumed the affaii-s of the 
company, all rates were changed to $1.15. In 1912 they were reduced 
to $1.10, and on May 1, 1913, through an order of the Public Utilities 
Commission of New Jersey, they were further reduced to 90 cents, which 
rate is still in effect. 

105 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

In 1910 the Ridgewood Gas Company served 864 consumers, includ- 
ing 200 in Glen Rock and 70 in Ho-Ho-Kus. At present the Ridgewood 
District of the Public Service Gas Company supplies 1,950 consumers. 

The original works of the Ridgewood Gas Company are still in use 
as a storage plant of the Public Service Gas Company, the manufactur- 
ing of the product having been discontinued about 1907. Gas is now 
supplied from Paterson under high pressure, with high pressure mains 
encircling the Ridgewood District to maintain a proper pressure for 
all domestic purposes. 

Electricity 

Kerosene oil lamps for street lighting purposes were introduced by 
the individual property owners in the early 70 's and continued in use 
until the Ridgewood Electric Light & Power Company, through the 
efforts of E. H. Watlington, began supplying consumers between the 
months of October and December, 1893. The original officers of the 
company were :• 

Fresident J. F. Carrigan, 

Treasurer Paul Walton, 

Secretary F-,. H. Watlington. 

At the time the plant was constructed on the present site of the 
Public Service Company's station, a 40-kilowatt alternator for house 
lights and a 40-arc direct current generator for street lighting were 
installed. The street lighting system was arranged on what was known 
as the "moonlight schedule", while the current for house lighting was 
started at 5 P.M., and discontinued at 1 A.M. each day. 

Originally a fiat rate of .$5.00 per month was charged for current 
with an additional charge of 40 cents for each electric bulb furnished. 
On account of increased business, meters were installed in 1894, at which 
time bills to consumers were rendered on the basis of one cent per 
burning hour for 15-candle power lamps, with a step rate discount. 

In 1897 arc lamps were supplied to commercial consumers at $5.00 
per month with a 5 per cent, discount. In 1899 the Gas & Electric 
Company of Bergen County leased the Ridgewood Electric Light & 
Power Company, and changed the rate to 25 cents per 1,000 watts, 
supplying an all-night service. The street arc lights were changed to 
32-candle power lamps and a scale of discounts for prompt payments 
was made as follows : 20 per cent, on bills up to $10.00, 25 per cent, on 
bills from $10.00 to $20.00, 30 per cent, on bills from $20.00 to $30.00, 
35 per cent, on bills from $30.00 to $40.00, and 40 per cent, on bills of 
$40.00 and over. In 1900 the rates were changed to 20 cents per kilo- 
watt with a discount of 15 per cent. This rate prevailed until April, 
1906, when it was changed to 15 cents straight. 

The Public Service Electric Company assumed the affairs of the 
Bergen County Electric Light & Power Company during April, 1905, 
and continued their lease of the Ridgewood Electric Light & Power 
Company plant. 

In January, 1908, the rate was changed to 12 cents and in January, 
1910, to 10 cents, which rate now prevails without discounts for light- 

106 



PAST AND PRESENT 



ing rates but with a sliding scale for consumption of over 50 kilowatt 
hours, as per the existing contract. 

During the year 1910 the old plant of the Ridgewood Electric Light 
& Power Company was taken down and on its site a modern and up- 
to-date sub-station was erected by the Public Service Electric Company. 
This sub-station contains motor volt regulators and is connected with 
the company's central stations at Newark, Pateison, and Marion, which 
arc of sufficient capacity to carry whatever load the business may place 
upon them, thus assuring the consumers of Ridgewood a continuous 
service. 

The Public Service Gas Company and the Public Service Electric 
Company also have a commercial office on Prospect Street where busi- 
ness matters between the companies and their consumers are conducted. 
Here demonstrations of the practical uses of their products are main- 
tained and arrangements may be made at any time to visit and inspect 
the equipment used b}^ the companies in rendering their service to 
the public. 

THE POST OFFICE 

When a post office was first established in this vicinity it was nat- 
urally near the business center, then the manufacturing establishments 
in the Midland Park section of Godwinville. For a long time the mail 
was thrown off at Ho-Ho-Kus and carried on horseback to the post 
office. In 1859, however, a depot was erected near where the present 
depot stands and the mail for Godwinville was thrown oft' here. With 
the coming of numerous New York families to Ridgewood in 1860 and 
succeeding years, it was found that the location of the post office was 
inconvenient and an effort was made to secure one more satisfactory. 
After a number of months of strenuous labor, the postal authorities 
consented to the establishment of the Ridgewood post office. This was 
in 1865 and the mail was marked "Ridgewood" although the railroad 
companv did not consent to the change in name from Godwinville 
until 1866. 

The most persistent workers for the post office were E. A. Walton 
and Benjamin F. Robinson, and when the post office was established, 
Mr. Robinson was asked to act as postmaster. He accepted the position 
but proved to be ineligible as he held a position in the Internal Revenue 
Service and the federal law would not permit him to hold both offices. 
He resigned the postmastership and Garret G. Van Dien, who kept a 
general store on the site where the S. S. Walstrum-Gordon & Forman 
real estate office is located in the Wilsey Building, was appointed to 
succeed him. Mr. Van Dien continued in the office until his death on 
November 1, 1884. His widow then became postmistress and held office 
until succeeded by John F. Cruse, in the following year. 

The office was removed by Mr. Cruse to the store now occupied by 
Mr. Adam. After Mr. Cruse had held office for four years, Mr. Adolph 
Huttemyer was appointed. At that time Mr. Huttemyer was running a 
coal yard which was removed to make way for the Plaza. Mr. Huttemyer 
removed the office to his coal office. He served for four years when Mr. 
Cruse was again appointed and moved the office to its former location. 

107 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Mr. Cruse was siiccoedcd in November, 1897, by Roger M. Bridgman, who 
removed the office to the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut 
Street. After the First National Bank was built, the post office was again 
removed across the street. These quarters soon became too small and in 
1912 tlie office was removed to its present location on Prospect Street 
adjoining the First National Bank Building. 

The post office at first was a small affair, the work being done by 
the postmaster, w^ith the occasional help of an assistant. The nearest 
money-order office w^as at Paterson. The hard times of the years 1873 
to 1878 interfered materially with the growth of the town and the de- 
velopment of its postal facilities. The first domestic money-order was 
issued from the Ridgewood office on August 1, 1889, and the money- 
order business grew slowly. The office frecpiently does more business 
in one day now than it did in months after its introduction. The office 
was designated as an international money-order office in 1900. In 1901 
two rural carriers were appointed and in 1903 three carriers were ap- 
pointed to serve the Village. This force was increased from time to 
time until now^ there are eight regular carriers, two of whom were 
added since Dr. Geo. M. Ockford, the present postmaster, succeeded 
Mr. Bridgman on April 1, 1914. In 1911 the office was designated to 
receive postal savings. The parcel post system was installed in 1913 
and made necessary the employment of additional help. This w^ork is 
now done by auxiliary carriers. They carry parcel post and cover the 
routes of absent carriers. The business of the post office has kept pace 
with the growth of Ridgewood and the force to-day comprises 22 per- 
sons. The quantity of parcel post continually increases and the office 
is in a flourishing condition. 

THE ERIE RAILROAD 

The story of the Erie Railroad, now operating through Ridgewood, 
starts indirectly with the war of the Revolution. 

In 1779 American troops, under Generals Clinton and Sullivan, in- 
vaded the country of the confederated Indian tribes of New York State. 
This invasion^ provoked by the Wyoming Massacre of the previous year, 
led the troops through the valleys of the Susquehanna and Chemung. 
This region was then unbroken wilderness, but General Clinton realized 
the importance of the valleys to the development of New York State 
and the influence they were to exert on the westward spread of civil- 
ization. He conceived the idea of connecting the seaboard with the 
Great Lakes by a thoroughfare which should pass through the southerly 
tier of New York counties, and among the earliest petitions to the 
newly organized Federal Congress was that of Generals Clinton and 
Sullivan foi- authority and an appropriation to construct a road to be 
known as the "Appian Way", from the Hudson River through the 
valleys of the Delaware, the Susquehanna, and the Alleghany, to Lake 
Erie. No such appropriation was made by Congress but Clinton 
throughout his life continued to advocate the project and after his 
death his son, DeWitt Clinton, kept up the agitation for this thorough- 
fare, although along different lines. W^hen he came into power the 

108 



PAST AND PRESENT 



2iorthern and central tiers of New York counties had gained predomi- 
nance, commercially and politically, and in 1S17 DeWitt Clinton, as 
Governor, brought before the Legislature a plan to construct a canal 
from Lake Erie to the Hudson River. This canal was conii)leted and 
opened in 1825 and is known as the P^rie Canal. 

DeWitt Clinton had not, however, abandoned faith in his father's 
project, nor the interests of the southern tier, and during the year 
prior to the opening of the canal, he brought l)eforc the Legislature 
the subject of a state road through the Delaware, Susquehanna and 
Alleghany valleys. A survey Avas authorized and made, but the route 
was so influenced by political considerations that the project came to 
nothing. . .;;, , 

Five years before DeWitf *"Ciinton 's advocacy of the Erie Canal, 
Colonel John M. Stevens of New Jersey offered to undertake the l)uild- 
ing of a steam railway in place of the proposed Erie Canal, but his 
offer was rejected with ridicule. A project for a canal through the 
southern tier was taken under consideration after the abandonment of 
the highway plan, but this, in turn, was abandoned upon an adverse 
report of Lenjamin Wright, the engineer of the Erie Canal, who hinted 
in the .same re])ort at the practicability of a railroad. 

Li 1829 William G. Redfield, of New York City, issued a ]iamphlet 
entitled "A Sketch of the Geographical Route of a Gi'eat Railway, 
by which it is proposed to connect the canals and navigable waters of 
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, 
and the adjacent States and Territories", commencing at the Hudson 
River near New York City and ending at Lake Erie. His pamjddet 
found wide circulation and in 1831 the National Government authoi-- 
ized Colonel DeWitt Clinton, a son of the now deceased Governor and 
a member of the Ignited States Army Engineer Corps, to make a recon- 
naissance of the route. This reconnaissance showed the project to be 
practicable. It is remarkable that, upon the report of a grandson of 
General Clinton, a railway was projected and ultimately built along 
the "Appian Way"; for, pursuant to a resolution of a convention of 
the southern tier counties, held in Owego in 1831, a charter was granted 
by the Legislature in 1832 for the construction of a railroad between 
Lake Erie and the Hudson River. After various vicissitudes, political 
and financial, this railway was consti'ucted between Dunkirk and Lake 
Erie and Picrmont on the Hudson River. A portion between Piei-mont 
and Goshen was completed in 1841. The whole road was completed 
and opened for traffic in 1851, and the opening was a National cere- 
monial. It Avas attended by President Fillmore, Daniel Webster, Sec- 
retary of State ; John J. Crittenden, Attorney General ; W. C. Graham, 
Secretary of the Navy ; W. K. Hall, Postmaster General ; the Governor 
and Lieutenant Governor of New York State, and many other promi- 
nent men, all of whom traversed the entire length of the railroad on 
the initial trip, traveling from New York City to Piermoiit by boat 
for the start. 

The nearest station on this I'aili'oad to Godwinville, now Ridgewood, 
was Suffern, but, as the natural terminus for a railroad was opposite 
New York City, and the natui'al route lay thi'ough tlie Paramus Valley 

10!) 




< 



si 



m 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

to Paterson and thence to Jersey City, there was no question but that 
Ridgewood would ultimately be on the Erie map. There were men 
in New Jersey who held this belief and who were far-seeing enough to 
obtain charters for two railroads ; one, the Ramapo and Paterson Rail- 
road from Paterson to the State line at Suffern ; the other, the Paterson 
and Hudson River Railroad from Jersey City to Paterson. The latter 
was built and opened in 1836. The former was not built until it be- 
came evident that the New York and Erie Railroad (now Erie) was 
to be completed. The Ramapo and Paterson Railroad was built and 
put in operation in 1848 as a single track road. Its terminus was only 
a short distance from the New York and Erie Railroad at Suffern. 
The charter of the New^ York and Erie Railroad did not permit it to 
connect with a railroad running into any other State, and for more 
than a year it ignored the existence of the New Jersey lines. It could 
not prevent its passengers, however, from detraining at Suffern and 
taking the shorter route to New York City, but it could and did dis- 
criminate against the New Jersey route by making the fare to and from 
Suffern the same as tlie fare to and from New York. Even after the 
passage of a bill by the New York Legislature requiring all railroads 
to provide proper facilities for connecting railroads, this discrimina- 
tion continued. Under the new law the Union Railroad Company was 
formed and a railroad was built from the Erie Station at Suffern to 
the terminus of the Ramapo and Paterson. The New York and Erie 
increased the speed of its trains and boats in the hope of competing 
with this new connection, but ultimately gave in and in 1851 leased 
each of the Jersey companies during the continuance of theii* charters. 
Rockland County interests in New York State fought against this diver- 
sion of traffic from Piermont but were not successful. 

The terminus of the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad in Jersey 
City was just north of the present Pennsylvania Station, the route to 
the terminus being along the westerly side of the Palisades and through 
the Pennsylvania Railroad cut into the city. Not until 1862 did it run 
through the tunnel to the present Erie Terminus in Jersey City. 

Between the opening of the Paterson and Hudson Railroad in 1836 
and the Ramapo and Paterson Railroad in 1848, the residents of Ridge- 
wood and vicinity, when traveling to New York City, generally drove 
to Paterson and took a train from the terminus of the Paterson and 
Hudson River Railroad, then located at the corner of Grand and Main 
Streets. The locomotives during the early days were not allowed within 
the city limits and the trains were taken out to the city line by horses. 

The second track through Ridgewood was laid in 1865 and the third 
and fourth tracks in 1902 and 1903. 

With the opening of the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, two stop- 
ping places were established in the vicinity of Ridgewood, one at Ho- 
Ho-Kus and the otlier at Rock Road (Glen Rock). These were not 
convenient, however, to the people of the vicinity, including their Para- 
mus and Godwinville neighl)ors, and soon after the trains began stopping 
at the Godwinville road crossing. The station was called Godwinville 
after the nearest hamlet. Cornelius Shuart was appointed station agent 

112 



PAST AND PRESENT 



and served for a number of years. The present agent is Charles F. 
Bechtlofft, Avho has served since March 11, 1896. 

The first acconiniodation for tlie passengers at the new station was 
an old car from the Paterson and Hudson River Railroad, with seats 
cross-wise like a Concord coach and with doors on the side. 

Later the property south of Ridgewood Avenue came into the pos- 
session of Cornelius Mabey, who built a house in the rear of where the 
Hutton Building now stands. For a number of years one room of this 
house was used as a Avaiting-room by the patrons of the railroad, a few 
household chairs being used as seats. In 1859, however, these primitive 
acconunodations were abandoned for a station built by the residents. 

In 1866 there were three stopping places in this vicinity, Ho-Ho-Kus, 
Godwinville (Ridgewood) and Rock Road. The station at Rock Road 
was a two-story building, the upper story being occupied as a residence 
by the station agent, and Avas located on the north side of Rock Road 
adjoining the tracks. The road at this time and for many years after- 
wards was a broad gauge railroad. The cars were lighted by candles 
and the conductors carried lanterns at night to enable them to see the 
tickets. Occasionally commuters w^ho rode with a conductor with whom 
they were especially pleased, would contribute to a fund to purchase 
a silver-plated lantern which would be presented to the popular official 
with impressive ceremony. Commuters were few in number and the 
train service was very limited. 

About 1868 the first train for New York was at 6:39 A.M., the 
second at 7:39, the third at about 8:12 and the fourth at 9 o'clock. 
If a person did not take the 9 o'clock train it was necessary to wait 
until three o'clock, except in summer when there was a train at 11 A.M. 
Commutation tickets were sold only in New York. There were no block 
signals and no air brakes. When approaching a station, the engineer 
blew two whistles and the brakeman went to the platform and applied 
the brakes by hand. Richard W. Hawes commuted on the Erie Railroad 
since he entered its service on May 1, 1870, until he retired from busi- 
ness on January 1, 1911, with only three intervals of three winter 
months each while in the West and in New York City. C. M. Keyser 
has also been a continuous commuter since 1880, while P. W. Van Dien, 
wlio died in 1916, commuted since 1878, with the exception of two years. 

There h^s existed l)etween the officials of the Erie Railroad and the 
Village of Ridgewood during the last twenty years an almost continual 
agitation over crossing eliminations. Various schemes were presented 
and discussed at diff^erent times for the elimination of the crossings at 
Godwin and Ridgewood Avenues, but the question of contingent dam- 
ages and the unsightliness of the proposed eliminations have always 
defeated the plans. 

In 1903 an undercrossing at East Franklin Avenue along the lines 
of, but less elaborate than, the existing undercrossing was proposed 
but met with no favor. In 1909 an elimination at Ridgewood and 
Godwin Avenues was foi'mally agreed to by the railroad company Init 
no time was set. As the elimination was merely part of a general scheme 
for a low grade freight line from the Jersey Meadows to Suffern, which 
involved an immense expenditui'c and would elevate the tracks through 

113 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Ridgewood, it was never carried out. In 1915, however, as the result 
of negotiations between Village Commissioners D. A. Garber, G. U. 
White, Frederick Pfeiffer and F. D. Underwood, President of the Erie 
Railroad, and G. N. Orcutt, his assistant, and in accordance Avith a 
verbal understanding between the Village officials and Mr. Underwood, 
during a luncheon given by Mr. Orcutt at the Ridgewood Country Club, 
that the Village would bear one-half of the cost, a contract was entered 
into covering the elimination of the Franklin, Godwin and Ridgewood 
Avenues grade crossings and the construction of the present undercross- 
ings, a new station and the plaza. The improvements were designed by 
W. W. Drinker, Principal Assistant Engineer of the Erie Railroad 
Company, and Frank A. Howard, its Engineer of Bridges and Build- 
ings, both residents of Ridgewood. The work under their plans, as 
approved by the Village Commissioners, has been done without any 
material variations although the total estimated cost of $160,000 will 
probably be exceeded by $20,000 on account of the increased cost of 
labor and material not embraced in main contracts. 

In addition to its proportion of the cost, the Erie Railroad has dedi- 
cated to the Village of Ridgewood, for street and park purposes, 101,500 
square feet of land west of the tracks and north of West Franklin 
Avenue, and 8,640 square feet west of the tracks and south of West 
Franklin Avenue. The total cost of this land was $43,529. The Rail- 
road Company reserved the right, however, to lay two additional tracks 
on the westerly side of the present tracks in case traffic should ever 
demand it. 

The following is of interest in connection with the improvements : 

Work started Avigust, 1915. 

Undercrossing opened September 1, 1916. 

Station opened September 23, 1916. 

Pedestrian subway opeiied November 28, 1916. 

Earth Excavation, 56,333 cubic yards. 

Concrete curb, 6,244 lineal feet. 

Concrete sub-base for pavement, 17,550 square yards. 

Catch basins, 22. 

Man-holes, 8. 

Vitrified tile drain, 3.073 lineal feet. 

Concrete sidewalk, 15,243 square feet. 

Paving brick, 17,550 square yards. 

Ridgewood is the western terminus of the Bergen County Railroad, 
acquired by the Erie in 1881, which leaves the main line at Rutherford, 
and avoiding the cities of Passaic and Paterson, materially shortens the 
distance. 

The chief advantage to Ridgewood is that it gives four tracks to 
Jersey City and betters the train service materially, express trains 
making the trip in thirty-four minutes. The schedule time of trains 
over the Main Line of the Erie between Ridgewood and Jersey City 
is from forty to fifty minutes. 

In addition to the Ridgewood Station, the Ho-Ho-Kus Station on 
the Main Line of the Erie, two stations in Glen Rock, one on the Bergen 
County Branch and the other on the Main Line of the Erie; together 
with the Midland Park Station of the New York, Susquehanna & West- 

114 



PAST AND PRESENT 



ern Railroad furnishes every section of the Village with frequent and 
convenient train service. 

RAPID TRANSIT 

Public Service Railway Company 

About 1899, an effort was made to secure a trolley franchise between 
Ridgewood and Paterson. A citizen of this community, Preston Steven- 
son, organized the Paterson & State Line Traction Company, securing 
a number of right-of-way concessions which eventually became the prop- 
erty of the Public Service Railway. Work was finally commenced on 
the line under a franchise granted by the Village Commissioners on 
January 24, 1914, and during the same year cars entered Ridgewood, 
the terminus being in the rear of the Osman Building, corner of Frank- 
lin Avenue and Wilsey Square. 

North Jersey Rapid Transit Company 

First surveys were made in 1908 and 1909, and in 1910 the first 
car ran from its terminus opposite the grounds of the North Jersey 
Country Club to Ho-Ho-Kus. The line was completed through to Suf- 
fern in 1911 and is now operated as an interui'ban road under a stea^^ 
charter, by George Jackson, Jr., General Manager. The principal station 
in Ridgewood is at the East Ridgewood Avenue crossing. 

HACK AND BUS SERVICE 

Besides the two trolley systems which serve the people more in 
reaching neighboring communities than in their local needs, there are 
a number of automobile hacks which render day and night service, 
under permits granted by the Village Commissioners. In addition to 
this service and also under permits issued by the Village Commission- 
ers, three automobile bus lines furnish day service to the residents, one 
on the east side, the Ridgewood Motor Bus, established in 1914, and two 
on the west side, Tcrhune's Yellow Bus and Jackson's Bus, established 
during 1916. 

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH FACILITIES 

Telephone 

The history of the telephone in Ridgewood is very similar to the 
history of the telephone anywhere, or, for that matter, the history of 
any new invention. It has received many hard knocks, some of which 
have very nearly terminated its career, but these have been counter- 
balanced by the appreciation of men who were able to look ahead and 
foretell the ultimate usefulness of the telephone and the natural realiza- 
tion by the public of the value of the instrument. 

Nearly 2,400 telephones are now connected with the Ridgewood Cen- 
tral Office of the New York Telephone Company. Of these 1,800 are 
in Ridgewood proper, while the remaining 600 are in the various munic- 
ipalities immediately adjacent. The outside local wire plant consists 
of 7,196.33 miles of wire in cable and 453.27 miles of bare wire. There 

115 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

are also 209.55 miles of bare wire used for trunk lines. This large plant 
satisfies all demands of the people of Ridgewood in the quick, efficient, 
polite manner for which the Telephone Companj^ is noted. The sixteen 
operators answer and connect about 9,500 local calls daily and over 
1,800 calls are made between Ridgewood and other places each day. 

The first telephone exchange in this vicinity was opened for business 
at Paterson on the afternoon of December 24, 1879, with eleven sub- 
scribers. In the spring of 1882 the Erie Railroad opened the Bergen 
County short cut and simultaneously a line was extended from the 
Paterson switchboard to Wortendyke, branching at Midland Park to 
connect Ridgewood. There were two stations on this line, C. A. Wort- 
endyke 's silk mill at Wortendyke, and the home of Garrett Van Dien, 
then Postmaster of Ridgewood. In the fall of 1883 Mr. Van Dien dis- 
continued his telephone for the reason that a Paterson undertaker called 
him each time a death occurred anywhere in the neighborhood. 

John F. Cruse came from Bath, Me., to Ridgewood in 1878 and later 
opened a grocery store at 252 West Ridgewood Avenue, where F. H. 
Adam is now located. Mr. Cruse came to the rescue and took over the 
lonely little telephone which had been dropped l)y Mr. Van Dien because 
of his dislike of having sad news forced upon him. 

It was during the summer of 1884 that the Acme Band of Worten- 
dyke gave a demonstration by playing near the telephone at Wortendyke 
to a number of people who gathered at Cruse 's store in Ridgewood and 
took turns listening over the telephone to the music nearly two miles 
away. There is grave doubt in the minds of many whether the patient 
listeners heard the music over the telephone or whether the wind was 
especially favorable on that particular day. 

In 1894 the second telephone was installed for H. A. Tice in his drug 
store, at the northwest corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut 
Street, where C. A. G. Welti's market now is. From that time on, much 
of the telephone history of Ridgewood has revolved about Mr. Tice and 
his drug store. 

In the summer of 1895 the single telephone in Tice's drug store was 
replaced by a 10-line switchboard connecting with fifteen telephones, 
and with one trunk line to Paterson. This switchboard then served 
Allendale, Waldwick and Ramsey, as well as the present Ridgewood 
Central Office District which comprises the Village of Ridgewood, the 
Boroughs of Midland Park, Glen Rock and Ho-Ho-Kus, and part of 
the townships of Franklin and Midland. Service was rendered on this 
board from 7 :00 A.M. to 10 :00 P.M. 

By 1896 this equipment was taxed to its limit and had to be again 
replaced by a 100-line switchboard. The first operator was Miss L. Van 
Emburgh. The first telephone directory covering telephones served by 
the Ridgewood Central Office was issued in September, 1897. The fol- 
lowing is a list of telephone numbers and subscribers at that time : 

Allendale 4 f Ackerman, R. V. (pay sta) 

Ridgewood Carrig^an, J. F. 

Ridgewood 11 Chaplin, Duncan D. 

Ridgewood 7 a Cooper & Corsa 

Ridgewood 5 Cox, D. C. 

Ridgewood 3 a Cruse, John F. (pay sta) 

116 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Ridgewood 7 f Daley, James E. 

Ridgewood 6 Gardiner, Edmund Le R. 

Ridgewood 12 b Haskins, R. T. 

Ridgewood 14 b Hengeveld, Jacobus 

Ridgewood 3 i Holt Bros. & Co. 

Ridgewood 2 f Hopper, John B., Dr. 

Hohokus 4 a Keiser, G. J. B. (pay sta) 

Wortendyke 14 a Mayhew, F. H. (pay sta) 

Ramsey s 4 i Moffatt, P. B. (pay sta) 

Ridgewood 25 N. Y. & N. J. Tel. Co., (pay sta) 

Ridgewood 3 f Ockford, George M., M.D. 

Waldwick 4b Oughton, Geo. (pay sta) 

Ridgewood 3 b Post, John H. 

Ridgewood 2 b Rouclere House (H. Terhune) 

Ridgewood 25 Tice, H. A. (pay sta) 

Ridgewood 7 b Vroom, W. L., M.D. 

Ridgewood 2 a Wall, Isaac M. 

Ridgewood 8 West'rn Union Telegr'ph Co. 

Ridgewood 12 a Zabriskie, David D. 

On March 21, 1900, Mr. Tice's building and the telephone switch- 
board were destroj^ed by fire, but on the following day, March 22nd, 
service was restored by a new switchboard placed in George Winters' 
stationery store, on the south side of Ridgewood Avenue near Prospect 
Street. After about a year, the switchboard was moved back to the rear 
of the drug store in Tice's new building. 

On October 10, 1908, the present common battery switchboard was 
put into service. It is now located over Tice's drug store on the third 
floor of the building at the corner of Ridgewood Avenue and Chestnut 
Street. The steady increase in business has necessitated the complete 
rebuilding of the outside distributing plant. In the early days the 
telephone wires were carried singly upon cross-arms attached to poles. 
As the number of lines increased, the single wires and cross-arms have 
been replaced by small aerial cables and in the business center of the 
town, underground subway cables have been constructed. 

Telephone rates in Ridgewood have been reduced from time to 
time for the past sixteen years. On January 1, 1900, there were two 
schedules applying in Ridgewood; one a message rate schedule of $50 
a year for an individual line, $40 a year for a two-party line, and $30 
a year for a three or more party line. These rates permitted a sub- 
scriber the use of 500 messages per annum and applied to both business 
and residence. An optional flat rate was also in effect at this time of 
$100 a year for individual line business service and $75 a year for 
two party line business service. The extension station in connection 
with service of this type was $30 a year. The optional flat rate for 
residence service was $75 for an individual line and $60 for a two- 
party line, with an extension station rate of $20. 

In November, 1901, the message rate service was eliminated and flat 
rates for business service were reduced to $60, $-18, and $36 for indi- 
vidual, two-party and four-party lines, respectively, while residence 
rates were reduced to $48, $36, and $24 a year for the same classes of 
service. The business extension station rate was reduced from $30 to 
$20 per annum and the residence extension station rate from $20 to 
$12 per annum. 

117 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

In May, 1904, the rates were again reduced by the introduction of 
business rates of $48, $39 and $30 for individual, two-party and four- 
party lines, respectively, and residence rates of $36 and $24 for indi- 
vidual and four-party lines, respectively. Other small reductions have 
been made from time to time until the present rates were made effective 
in 1910, which are $48, $36 and $30 for business individual, two-party 
and four-party lines, respectively; and $36, $30 and $24 for residence 
individual, two-party and four-party lines, respectively. 

The private branch exchange rates have also been reduced in pro- 
portion. 

Telegraph 

Prior to 1864 only one telegraph wire was in operation over the 
Erie Railroad lines. While this was used by the railroad principally 
for operating purposes, commercial telegrams were accepted at their 
stations and delivered to the Western Union Company in New York 
City if destined to points not on the lines of the Erie Railroad. 

During 1864 the Western Union Telegraph Company made arrange- 
ments with the Erie Railroad for the construction of a telegraph line 
along the railroad right-of-way with an exchange of telegraph traffic. 
The Erie Company's stations were connected with the Western Union 
Company's wires at that time, the date of Ridgewood's first regular 
telegraph service. The first telegraph operator was R. Terhune, who 
also acted as agent for the railroad and the telegraph company. Lew 
E. Weller of Otisville, N. Y., now holding a position in the Western 
Union Telegraph Company's New York operating room, was also one 
of the early operators in Ridgewood, serving in that capacity during 
1865. Mr. Weller has the distinction of not only having been in con- 
tinuous service of the W^estern Union Telegraph Company for the past 
47 years, but also of being the oldest living operator who has served 
the Erie Railroad. 

On September 28, 1913, the joint arrangement for the operation of 
their offices which had existed up to this time between the Erie Rail- 
road and the Western Union was discontinued and the latter, in con- 
junction with the New York Telephone Company, opened an office in 
the Wilsey Building for the handling of their commercial affairs. 

Mr. F. W. Milliken, who had been in charge of telegraph matters 
in Ridgewood for both the Erie Railroad and the Western Union Tele- 
graph Company since March 11, 1896, was placed in charge of the 
Telegraph Company's interests and is their present manager. On April 
27, 1914, the joint commercial olfice of the Telephone and Telegraph 
Companies was discontinued and since then the telegraph office has been 
located in the Osman Building in Wilsey Square. 

WATER SUPPLY 

The Bergen Aqueduct Company 

Prior to 1900, the Village of Ridgewood had no system of water 
supply either for domestic or municipal purposes. During that year 
the Bergen Aqueduct Company was organized by H. W. Corbin of 

118 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Jersey City and the company entered into a contract with the Village 
to construct and operate for a period of fifteen years a system of water 
works in the Village. A pumping station near the intersection of North 
Maple and Harrison Avenues and a storage tank near the intersection 
of Sunset and Valle.y View Avenues were constructed and the company 
commenced supplying water to the Village about January 1, 1901. The 
first standpipe was placed in the vicinity of Sunset Avenue and is still 
in service. 

In 1903 the company acquired a franchise to extend its pipes from 
Ridgewood through Glen Rock and since then it has furnished water 
to the two communities. 

The Bergen Water Company 

From 1900 to 1908 the Aqueduct Company procured its supply of 
water from the wells located on the Harrison Avenue plant. During 
this period both Ridgewood and Glen Rock had rapidly increased in 
population and by 1908 this supply was inadequate to the needs of 
these two communities. 

The Bergen Water Company was therefore incorporated on August 
19, 1908, by the stockholders of the Aqueduct Company and constructed 
a pumping station, two storage tanks, and a sj^stem of street mains in 
the Borough of Midland Park. The sale of water started on August 
1, 1909. 

At present the Aqueduct Company owns all mains, valves and hy- 
drants in Ridgewood and Glen Rock, the pumping station, wells and 
land at Harrison Avenue, and the storage tank and land at Sunset 
and Valley View Avenues in Ridgewood. The Water Company owns 
the system of mains, valves and hydrants, pumping plant, wells, land 
and two storage tanks in Midland Park. 

While the mains are continuous between Ridgewood and Midland 
Park, the ownership is determined by the dividing line between the 
towns. 

The Aqueduct Company, from the time it started until the com- 
mencement of operations of the Water Company, pumped its own water 
by means of the Harrison Avenue plant, but after the Water Company 
began operations, the pumping plant at Harrison Avenue was shut down 
and held in reserve for use only in case of breakdown at Midland Park 
and during the midsummer months to carry the peak of the load. Water 
was then and is now purchased by the Bergen Aqueduct Company from 
the Bergen Water Company for distribution in Ridgewood and Glen 
Rock. 

The Bergen Water Company also supplies its own consumers in 
Midland Park and since 1912 has sold water to the Village of Ho-Ho- 
Kus by meter. The pipe system in Ho-Ho-Kus is owned by the Village, 
and water rents are collected by the Village. 

The supply for Ho-Ho-Kus, when the Harrison Avenue plant is not 
running, passes through Ridgewood by way of Lake, Godwin, Franklin, 
Ridgewood and Maple Avenues. 

The contract between the Bergen Aqueduct Company and the village 

119 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

of Ridgewood having expired by limitation on January 1, 1916, and 
the water supply, plants and mains owned and controlled by the Bergen 
Aqueduct Company and the Bergen Water Company being insufficient 
to meet the future needs of the communities served by these companies, 
the question of whether the Village of Ridgewood shall acquire the 
properties of the two companies, or enter into a contract with a new 
company to be incorporated for the purpose of taking over the prop- 
erties with the development, in either case, of a new supply of water, 
is now receiving the attention of the Commissioners and citizens of 
the Village. 



120 



CHAPTER VII 

RESIDENCES— PRESENT, EARLY, HISTORICAL— AND 
COMMUNITY CENTERS 

RESIDENCES — PRESENT, EARLY AND HISTORICAL 

The Homes of Ridgeivood 

ALL of the traditions of Ridgewood and tlie efforts of its people 
combine to make it a residential community or home town. While 
it is impossible to describe in a book of this kind the various types 
of modern houses to be found within the boundaries of Ridgewood, it 
may be stated briefly that, with the exception of a few within the busi- 
ness section of the Village, all dwellings are detached and most are 
surrounded by ample and well-kept lawais, with space for gardens or 
fruit and shade trees. 

As will be seen in the foregoing pages, during the 50 years of its 
existence, as Ridgewood, the community has developed from an agri- 
cultural section into a modern residential village. As in other localities 
in Bergen County, the coming of the new type of dwelling has, in the 
natural course of things, brought about the gradual elimination of the 
houses of the early settlers, and these deserve greater consideration than 
has been given in the following general description of those in Ridge- 
wood and its vicinity. 

Early Dutch Homes 

Bergen County having been settled principally by the Dutch, such 
of the early homes as remain today show a distinctive style of archi- 
tecture that was the result of a slow local development, unmodified by 
outside influences until after the Revolution, which, so to speak, made 
the colonies more aware of each other's presence. 

Prior to that time, the Dutch settlers held slight communion with 
their English neighbors and were possessed of a marked individuality. 
This is responsible for their type of home, now generally referred to 
as Dutch Colonial. The first houses were primitive one or two-room 
cottages with rough stone walls and thatched, flat gable roofs without 
the overhanging eaves so noticeable later on. Very few houses of this 
type remain today. 

These simple cottages continued to be built for some time, always 
more carefully and Avith better workmanship, the stone laid in courses 
and roughly faced. Tlie stone, called sandstone, is a local stone, found 
on almost any site, ranging from light or dark tan to light brick color 
and of a great variety of texture. 

As time went on the stonework was more carefully cut, until the 
19th Century, when the precise jointing and smooth-tooled finish on the 
front was developed. 

The walls were laid in a binding material of ordinary clay from the 
fields, mixed with straw, and this, while keeping out moisture, was 

121 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

easily washed out of the stone on the outside of the walls by rain. It 
was to prevent this that the houses were later built with wide eaves 
overhanging the walls three feet or more. 

The end walls were not so easily taken care of and were not, there- 
fore, carried up to the peak of the gable. The space between was 
framed in wood covered with shingles and sometimes with clapboard, 
which left only a short space of stone wall requiring occasional repair. 

Once the overhang was adopted, the projecting portion was curved 
outward to keep the roofs from coming too close over the windows, 
to avoid the clumsy, top-heavy appearance and, possibly, to cast the 
rain-water farther out from the walls. 

When the original cottage became too small for its owners, a larger 
house was built against one end and this became the main portion of 
the house, the original building being used as a kitchen wing. Fre- 
quently a second wing, more or less like the first, was added on the other 
end of the building to accommodate a married son, who used the living 
quarters of the main house with the rest of the family. 

Thus the symmetrical house plan of center and flanking wings was 
not at all a formal conception carried out at one time, as we build houses 
today, but simply the result of natural growth in the prosperity and 
necessities of the family. This gradual evolution developed a type of 
house that is distinctive of Bergen County. Generally speaking it may 
be described as a low stone dwelling, usually with one wing and some- 
times two, a "Dutch" door in the middle with a fanlight above, two 
windows at each side, bare of columns or any other architectural orna- 
mentation, a simple platform with plain side railings in front of the 
door, the walls carrying low unbroken, gambrel roofs with eaves curving 
out three feet more or less, the whole giving an impression of strength, 
austerity, harmony, and comfort. The wings were lower and covered 
with a plain low gable, usually with the curving overhang, while the 
chimneys were large and usually of brick brought from Holland or 
Barbadoes. 

While the most important remaining groups of these Dutch houses 
are to be found in a district beginning about fifteen miles northwest 
of lower New York in Bergen County and stretching north along the 
valley of the winding Hackensack River from the town of Hackensack 
to the New York State Line, in Ridgewood and vicinity, a number still 
remain as follows: 

Ackerman-Van Emburgli House 

Situated at the head of Paramus Road just as it turns to cross the 
Saddle River is the old Ackerman Homestead. It was built by a mem- 
ber of that family in 1750 and came into the possession of the Van 
Emburgh family from the Ackerman Estate in 1800. 

It is commonly known as the home of Jacob Van Emburgh and at 
present is occupied by Hervey Terhune. 

Ackerynan-N angle House 

The first house north of the Ackerman-Van Emburgh House, and 
standing on the East Saddle River Road with its end towards the south, 

122 




3 
O 

o 






RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

and at the Junction of Paramus Road, was built by Abram Ackerman 
in 1760. 

It has generally been known as the home of John Naugle and for 
a number of years, until liis recent death, was occupied by Jacob Ferdon. 

Van Dien Home 

A few yards beyond the Saddle River boundary line of Ridgewood 
and on the west side of Paramus Road, just below the Blauvelt home, 
is the old home of the Van Dien family. Built in 1800 by Herman Van 
Dien, the house faces east with one wing on the south end. 

It is now owned by Miss Aletta Van Dien, daughter of John H. Van 
Dien, and is occupied by Elmo Paxton. 

Ackerman House 

At the junction of Ackerman and Doremus Avenues is another old 
Ackerman homestead now occupied by Garret G. Ackerman. The 
stone part of this was built by his great grandfather, David Ackerman, 
over 175 years ago. It now has a wooden wing on the south side. 

Zahriskie-Wessells-Board House 

On the east side of Paramus Road, just below the junction of Ho- 
Ho-Kus Brook and the Saddle River, in Midland Township, but within 
fifteen hundred feet of the Ridgewood Line, stands the old Zabriskie 
House, now owned and occupied by Frederick Z. Board. 

The house was constructed in 1790 by Andreas Zabriskie. Stand- 
ing at right angles to the road, the end of the nearest wing with its 
little oval windows set diagonally in the gable and in perfect detail, 
attracts immediate attention. The remaining portion of the structure 
has been added to, but in such a way as to leave the picturesque effect 
unharmed. 

A great lawn with beautiful trees and shrubbery stretches away 
from the rear of the house, and in front, across the drive-way, is the last 
of the old Colonial gardens, carefully laid out with paths and hedges. 
Nearby is an old barn originally constructed in 1775 and remodelled 
in 1823 and 1892, whose beams show the marks of British bullets fired 
during the Revolution. 

The house has often been described in periodicals dealing with ar- 
chitectural matters and is referred to as one of the most delightful of 
the old places, both for its structural beauty and its splendid location, 
to be found throughout this ancient countryside. 

Van Dien-Van De Beek-Hopper Houses 

The foregoing houses, together with the Van Dien home on Grove 
Street, the Van De Beek house at the junction of Maple Avenue and 
Prospect Street, the old Hopper home on Prospect Street, now owned 
by Mrs. T. A. Strange and built in 1810 by Garret Hopper, and the 
stone portion of the building now used by Dr. W. L. Vroom on West 
Ridgewood Avenue, which was built by Peter J. Hopper, the father 

124 



PAST AND PRESENT 



of Albert P. Hopper, about 1830, are practically all of the old stone 
houses of the former inhabitants which now remain, their places having 
been taken by the modern houses of today. 

While no longer in existence, the following stone houses were all 
excellent examples of the period: 

Aycrigg House 

Located on the east side of the Pararaus Road about one-half mile 
below Grove Street, this house was built about 1730 and destroyed by 
fire on July 4, 1899. Tlie house faced south with a wing on each end 
and with white-washed walls. In 1790 it was owned by John Zabriskie 
and later passed into the Bogert and then the Aycrigg families. 

On the west side of the Road stands the old family burial vault 
built in 1786. 

Z dbrishie-Y an Dien House 

About one thousand feet north of the Aycrigg House stood the house 
occupied by John and Leah Zabriskie, which was built in 1790 and later 
passed into the Van Dien family. 

Zabriskie House 

Built by Christian Zabriskie in 1728, this house was demolished in 
1790 by Andreas Zabriskie, who at that time built the present residence 
of F. Z. Board on the Paramus Road, a few yards in front of its site. 

HOUSES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST 

The houses described in the preceding pages might well have been 
included under this caption, as they are not only surrounded by the 
traditions of the families which occupied them, but, as many of them 
existed during the stirring times of our country's infancy, they were, 
without doubt, often visited by both the American and British troops. 

Washington and his generals, it is known, visited this section during 
tlie Revolutionary War and, judging from his orders and correspond- 
ence dated at Paramus, must have used one of the old houses in the 
vicinity as his headquarters. Some writers state that this was probably 
the place then called the Hopper Tavern, now known as the Brainard 
Tolles residence, in Ho-Ho-Kus, but this has never been established 
as a fact. 

In the vicinity of Ridgewood, however, are two old landmarks which 
sheltered those around whom, in one case, a glowing and romantic 
picture might be painted, Avhile the other still remains a fond sentiment 
in the hearts of friends and admirers. They may not fall strictly within 
the scope of this book, but their historic value is as keen to the residents 
of Ridgewood as it is to those of their community. 

Tlie Hermitage 

On the west side of Franklin Turnpike, a sliort distance above the 
Ho-Ho-Kus Station, still stands "The Hermitage", the home of the 

125 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

widow of Colonel Provost and the scene of her courtship by the dashing 
Aaron Burr previous to their marriage. The house, quaint in appear- 
ance and surrounded by wonderful trees, was rebuilt in 1812. It has 
long been occupied by the Rosencrantz family and is an excellent speci- 
men of Colonial architecture. 

Jefferson House 

About one mile above the old Paramus Church on the west side of 
the East Saddle River Road, in Orvill Township, but within a few rods 
of the Ridgewood line, is the old Van Emburgh Homestead, which was 
later the summer home of the late Joseph Jefferson, of Rip Van Winkle 
fame. 

Here the old comedian rested from the exacting labors of his pro- 
fession and here it was his pleasure to extend to loving friends a hos- 
pitality that has become proverbial. 

COMMUNITY CENTERS 

One of the greatest factors in the development of Ridgewood is the 
interest manifested by the citizens in all matters relating to the social, 
recreational, educational and civic life of the community. The oppor- 
tunities afforded by the churches and their various organizations, by 
clubs and other societies, are extensively utilized as a medium of social 
and civic intercourse in accordance with the preferences of those inter- 
ested. Almost all of these have their particular places for holding 
meetings and their activities are described elsewhere in this book. The 
following serve the people as central gathering places for the discussing 
of civic and community matters as well as for the purpose of social 
and recreational affairs. 

Pearsall's Grove 

On the north side of East Ridgewood Avenue, between the Ho-Ho- 
Kus Brook and North Maple Avenue, stands a charming grove of nat- 
ural growth forest trees which follow an uprising of the land from the 
street level to the summit of a ridge from which there is an excellent 
view, the whole being admirably adapted to open air gatherings. In 
former days this was known as Dayton's Grove and through the cour- 
tesy of James W. Pearsall, its present owTier, has served the people on 
a number of occasions as a gathering place for such events as Inde- 
pendence Day celebrations, mass meetings, and Sunday afternoon church 
services during the summer months. 

The Opera House 

The idea of having an opera house started with a few public-spirited 
citizens who recognized the need of a suitable hall in which to hold 
meetings, local society entertainments, and theatrical performances. 
The project was presented to the citizens by means of a circular and 
a call for funds resulted in subscriptions amounting to approximately 
$10,000. In order to carry on the work, a private corporation called 

126 



PAST AND PRESENT 



the Ridgewood Hall and Park Association was formed. The original 
plan contemplated the transformation of the triangular piece of ground, 
now occupied by the Opera House, the Trust Company, the stores on 
Prospect Street, and the stores on Ridgewood Avenue between Prospect 
and Oak Streets, the beauty spot of the Village, by planting trees, 
shrubs and flowers. Owing to the lack of funds, however, the Asso- 
ciation was at first compelled to dispose of the Prospect Street frontage 
and later the Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street parts now occupied 
by stores. 

The building, when completed in 1889, had a seating capacity of 
five lumdred and was one of the best in Ridgewood. It was built by 
day's work, Andrew Van Emburgh doing the mason work and John B. 
Van Dien the carpentry. The cost of erecting the building, including 
the foundation, amounted to about $29,000, the foundation work prov- 
ing expensive owing to the fact that the locality had at one time been 
the site of a small pond, which necessitated the construction of a drain. 

AVhen the building was designed an addition was provided for the 
use of the Ridgewood Club, a social organization prominent in the Vil- 
lage for a number of years, but which went out of existence with the 
formation of the original Golf Club. The building has been of great 
service to the Village as a place for public, social, and amusement af- 
fairs, the latter being under the direction principally of private indi- 
viduals who leased the premises for the purpose. 

During the early 90 's the grounds surrounding the building were 
used on numerous occasions for carnivals and other public gatherings. 
For quite a period, band concerts were given every Saturday afternoon, 
through the generosity of the late Joseph W. Edwards. 

Since the completion of the Play House and the Assembly Hall in 
the Wilsey Building, these places have been preferred for holding gath- 
erings formerly held in the Opera House. 

The first amateur minstrel show was given in the Opera House by 
members of the Ridgewood Club, under the direction of Franklin Hart 
on December 19, 1895. Tlie cast included: Lucius Smith, J. B. Smith, 
A. S. Alexander, Walter Walton, H. M. Crowell, J. McLean Walton, 
J. W. Edwards, C. C. Harrison, Howard Walton, R. W. Hawes, F. A. 
Ross, F. C. Smith, G. C. Tompkins, John Hawes, J. W. Dunnell, with 
D. C. Cox as interlocutor. 

One of the most notable events held within its walls was the hearty 
reception given to Woodrow Wilson, then Governor of New Jersey, 
when he addressed the people of Ridgewood on the evening of October 
13, 1911, during the political campaign of that year. 

On August 5, 1913, after having been pui-chased and renovated by 
the late Joseph H. Martin, the building was reopened as a photo play 
house under the direction of his son, Frank Martin, but this project 
has since been discontinued. 

At the present time a portion of the building is occupied by Com- 
pany L and serves not only as their headquarters but is also used by 
them for drills. 

When the Opera House was first opened it was the scene of a carnival 
which continued for several days. The first theatrical performance 

127 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

within its walls, which was given at that time by local talent, was 
entitled "The Loan of a Lover". 

The Play House 

On May 26, 1913, the Village Commissioners, through the Building 
Inspector, gave the Ridgewood Play House Company permission to erect 
a building on Wilsey Square between the Van Orden Garage and the 
Osman Building. On November 21st, in the presence of a larger as- 
semblage of citizens than had ever before gathered in an auditorium 
in the Village, the building was formally opened. The program included 
an address by His Honor, Mayor Daniel A. Garber, a response by 
Walter W. Wilsey, the father of the project ; the presentation of Pinero's 
comedy in four acts "Trelawney of the Wells", by Miss Gelbart and 
her associates, all Ridgewood young people ; and the reading of a " Ded- 
ication Poem" written by Roland Clinton. 

The building, which is of fireproof construction, will seat 800 per- 
sons and was built by Ridgewood contractors. The carpenter work 
was done by J. L. Brown, the mason work by Thomas Vanderbeck, the 
plumbing and heating by W. H. Moore, and the painting and deco- 
rating by J. Uhlman. Bigelow and Maxham provided the furnishings. 

The land and buildings cost the company between $40,000 and 
$50,000 and during the latter part of 1916 an orchestral organ made 
by the American Master Organ Company of Paterson was installed at 
a cost of $5,000. The directors of the company are : Walter W. Wilsey, 
President ; Thomas Nichols, of Nutley, Vice-President ; A. B. Van Liew 
and A. W. Fish, of Bloomfield, and Howard Peck of East Orange, 
Directors. W. W. Young, formerly of Bloomfield, is Resident Manager 
and under his direction the company has furnished a daily program 
of high-class moving pictures, except when the building is used as a 
place of assembly for events connected with the social and civic activi- 
ties of the community. 

The Municipctl Building 

During the fall of 1910 the Village determined to construct a muni- 
cipal building that should be in keeping with the progressive spirit 
of the citizens. The building was completed and occupied during 1911. 

Located on Hudson Street, the first floor is occupied by the Fire 
and Police Departments. The second floor, besides providing office 
room for the various officials and departments of the Village, contains 
a large assembly room which is used for the w^eekly sessions of the 
Village Commissioners and for public meetings. 

The Village fire alarm bell, contained within a wooden frame, is 
mounted on the roof of the building. 

HALLS AND CLUB ROOMS 

A history of the Village organizations is given elsewhere in this 
book, but their places for holding meetings are at times used by the 
citizens for other purposes and their development has been an important 
feature of the community life. 

128 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Wilson's Hall 

111 1873 a two-story building with an outside stairway leading to 
the assembly room was located at about the site of the present feed and 
grain business of E. B. Van Horn on Broad Street, and was known 
as Wilson's Hall. This was the meeting place of the Masonic Fraternity 
until May, 1881, when the building was destroyed by fire. 

Union Street School Hall 

Music and Theatricals 

The prime mover in athletic and musical entertainments in Ridge- 
wood was Mr. Thomas W. White, then on the staff of the New York 
Herald. The first public concert given in Ridgewood was given for 
the benefit of the first Athletic Club in the hall over the Union Street 
School soon after it was completed. Mr. White's grand piano, then 
the only one in Ridgewood, was with difficulty carried to the platform. 
The Misses Sloman of New York played solos on piano and harp and 
the accompaniments to songs bj'^ Mr. White, Mr. Lucius Smith and 
Mr. R. W. Hawes. 

Dramatic 

In this Hall was also given the first theatrical performance in Ridge- 
wood. The hand-bills announced: 

Amateur Concert 

and 

Dramatic Entertainment 

at the 

Ridgewood School House Hall, 

Saturday, December 1-4, 1878. 

Mr. Tom Jefferson 

as 

Hugh De Brass 

In the laughable Farce, 

A Regular Fix. 

Tickets 50 cts. 

The concert was given by the singers who appeared at the athletic 
entertainment. The cast included Miss Hawes as leading lady, Mr. 
L. A. Stout and ]Miss Stout, Miss Effie Orr and Mr. Robert Kucuck of 
Ho-Ho-Kus and Mr. Rea of Midland Park, all amateurs. It was under- 
taken to raise funds for one of the churches in Ridgewood. Mr. Joseph 
Jefferson suggested it as good practice for his son, Tom, who was to 
begin his professional career in New York the next week. The cast was 
made by ]\Ir. Jeft'erson and all rehearsals but the final one were held at 
his house and were deliglitful meetings never to be forgotten by those who 
attended them. The performance was well attended and cleared $100. 

Social 

A series of dances was held in the winter of 1876-1877, beginning 
in the homes of the residents of Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus, by mem- 

129 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

bers of the England Keeley, Cameron, Robinson, Walton, Boekee, Ros- 
encrantz and Hawes families. Two were held in the unoccupied Kidder 
Academy on Van Dien Avenue. The music was furnished by the 
younger members; the dances were all square, quadrilles and lancers, 
closing with the Virginia reel, which was particularly enjoyed by the 
gray-haired members. The last of these dances was given on Wash- 
ington's Birthday in the School Hall, Union Street. Guests came from 
New York and Paterson. It was the first masked ball given in Ridge- 
wood, with elaborate music and refreshments and round dances. 

Ryerson's Block — Prospect Block — First National Bank Building — 
Masonic and Wilsey Building — Halls 

In 1882 Ryerson's Block was built and a hall was provided to take 
care of the needs of various organizations. The hall was used until 
the construction in 1903 of the Prospect Block and the First National 
Bank Building, when the assembly room provided for in the plans of 
the latter became the recognized meeting place and was known as Ma- 
sonic Hall. The hall in the Prospect Building was used principally for 
political meetings and dances, while Masonic Hall continued to be the 
principal meeting place of the Village organizations until 1915, when tlie 
INIasonic Fraternity purchased the former home of the Town Club 
(White Stars) on South Maple Avenue, which it improved and dedi- 
cated to its uses. Beginning with the opening of the Woman's Club 
Rooms in the Wilsey Building in 1914, the two last mentioned build- 
ings have become the meeting places of a number of organizations re- 
quiring rooms of such proportions.' The bank building assembly room 
is known as Knights of Columbus Hall. 

The Woman's Club Rooms in the Wilsey Building were the scene 
during 1916 of two assemblages of a historic nature. One of these was 
the semi-annual meeting of the Federation of Woman's Clubs of New 
Jersey during the latter part of October. The Club rooms were used 
as headquarters and the business sessions were held in the Play House. 
The other occasion was on February 16, when 450 persons gathered 
at a banquet of Fidelity Lodge No. 113, F. and A, M., and talked, sang, 
and cheered with a similar gathering of Masons in San Francisco and 
Pasadena over the recently completed transcontinental telephone line 
of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. Ridgewood upon 
this occasion had the honor of being the first small town to have an 
opportunity to test this marvelous feat of engineering. Through the 
greetings exchanged by Herbert R. Talbot, Master of Fidelity Lodge, 
and Albert G. Burnett, Grand Master of the State of California, Ridge- 
wood was the eastern terminus of the first verbal greetings ever ex- 
tended between officials of the Masonic order across the Continent. 

Country Club 

The facilities provided by the clubhouse of the Ridgewood Country 
Club since its completion in 1913, have given its members opportunities 
to enjoy the benefits which are usual in such an institution. While its 
short life has not enabled it to be the scene of any public gatherings 

130 



PAST AND PRESENT 



of note, it is well adapted for such purposes and history will doubtless 
record its part in such future achievements of the citizens. 

The Town Club 

Formerly the home of tlie Ridgewood Golf Club, the present quarters 
of the Town Club, have been the scene of many social and public func- 
tions, the most prominent affair of a public nature being when President 
Taft addressed the citizens from the club veranda on May 25, 1912. 
This was the first time in the history of the community that a President 
of the United States was entertained within its confines. 

Another important event in the history of the club occurred on 
April 8, 1915, when the citizens of the Village entertained at dinner 
the members of the Grand Army of the Republic living in this vicinity 
in commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the cessation of hos- 
tilities between tlie North and the South. The principal speaker of the 
evening was United States Senator Moses E. Clapp of Minnesota. 

SPEEDWAY 

About 1818, Van Dicn Avenue, then known as Van Dien Lane and 
considered as one of the best dirt roads in this section, was used as a 
speedway for the best horses in the neighborhood. It was the gathering 
place for those interested in the sport and some lively running and 
trotting races were held. 

HO-HO-KUS DRIVING CLUB PARK 

On Race Track Road, Avhich separates Ridgewood from Ho-Ho-Kus, 
and within the limits of Ho-Ho-Kus, stand the buildings and one-half 
mile track leased by the Ho-Ho-Kus Driving Club from Samuel Naugle. 
Since 1885 the park has served the people of the vicinity, not only as 
a speedway and for neighborhood horse shows, but also as a place for 
fairs. Since the advent of automobiles and aeroplanes it has been the 
scene at various times of exhibitions of these machines. 

' BERGEN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION 

The foregoing site was originally part of the Samuel Banta farm 
and was first used as a fair ground by the New Jersey Agricultural 
Association, organized in 1885. Jacob Hamper was its first president 
and served about ten years. 

In 1895 this organization was succeeded by the North Jersey Agri- 
cultural and Driving Association, which constructed the present build- 
ings, repaired the race-track, and generally improved the condition of 
the property. 

Up to 1914, the property was used at various times for speeding 
exhibitions and county fairs, but during that year it was sold to Samuel 
Naugle. 

The Ho-Ho-Kus Driving Club now rents the property from Mr. 
Naugle and, since 1915, has sublet the premises to the Bergen County 
Fair Association. Incorporated during 1915, this association has con- 
ducted a fair on the grounds for the past two years. 

131 




t 

c 



PAST AND PRESENT 



COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 

An enjoyable custom, which will probably be continued in the years 
to come, Avas established as a community affair on the evening of De- 
cember 23, 1916, when several hundred school children and as many 
adults assembled on Cottage Place around a towering evergreen, beau- 
tifully illuminated by hundreds of colored lights. Festoons of lights 
also illuminated the street. The children, under the direction of the 
Supervisor of Music of the Public Schools, sang a number of the old 
Christmas carols, after which the entire assemblage sang several closing 
hymns. Refreshments were served at the Unitarian Church for the 
adults and packages of cakes and candies were distributed to the young 
folks at the High School Building. 



i;'.;; 



CHAPTER VIII 
CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS 

ON account of its location at a distance from New York, where it 
cannot conveniently share the pleasures and activities of that 
city to any great extent, Ridgewood has found it necessary to provide 
its own entertainment, club life and civic interests. 

The natural result of such endeavor has been the organization of 
various clubs, societies and associations, all of which have as objectives 
the improvement of the individual and the advancement of the Village. 

These organizations may, for the sake of convenience, be grouped 
under several headings, each denoting the general character of the 
organization so classified, as follows : Clubs, Patriotic Organizations, 
Political Organizations, Fraternal Organizations, Musical Clubs, Wel- 
fare Associations, School Associations, Anti-Liquor Organizations, Medi- 
cal Societies, Organizations for Young Men and Commercial Organi- 
zations. 

CLUBS 

The call of outdoor sports and of social intercourse has been answered 
by the people of Ridgewood with the organization of nine clubs, all 
of which are of decided advantage to the Village. 

The Ridgewood Club 

The Ridgew^ood Club was organized in December, 1893, with the 
following officers: 

President ITexry S. Patterson, 

Vice-President M. T. Richardson, 

Treasurer W. J. Fui.lerton, 

Secretary Paul Walton. 

This organization was the first of its character in the community, 
becoming one of the leading institutions of the Village and the center 
of its social life and activity. In 1900 its membership Avas practically 
absorbed by the Ridgew^ood Golf Club. 

During its existence its aim had been to appeal particularly for 
the interest and support of the ladies, to which fact its growth and 
success w^ere mainly attributable. Two days of each week were set 
apart as Ladies' Days and weekly entertainments were given through- 
out the season. During the winter months afternoon lectures Avere 
held in the club parlors in the Opera House Building, followed by 
a five o'clock tea. 

The club was a member of the Whist League and the devotees of 
the game made it a feature of the club life. 

Ridgewood Country Cluh 

Golf in Ridgewood dates back to 1893, when the old Ho-Ho-Kus 
Golf Club was organized, the first in this section of New Jersey and 

134 



PAST AND PRESENT 



said to be one of the first in the country. The heir to the old Ho- 
Ho-Kus Club was the Ridgewood Golf Club, established in 1901, with 
a golf course on INIaple Avenue. Out of this latter club developed the 
present Country Club which, on March 12, 1910, was organized as 
an entirely new body, with the following officers and directors: 

President T. IF. Snydkr, 

Vice-President C. ^A'. Stockton, 

Secretary ^^■. D. Lawton, 

Treasurer H. G. \A'hite. 

Board of Directors 

J. H. Snyder, W. D. Lawtox, J. H. Dunning, C. W. Stockton, 

H. G. White, G. F. Bbackett, P. A. Toohey, J. C. Maiilan. 

('. E. MEBRIHEW, G. E. BoEEHAM, H. S. ^^'ILLARD, 

The Ridgewood Country Club is a corporation, the capital stock of 
.$50,000 being owned by about two hundred stockholders. Stockholders 
may become regular members of the club by paying the prescribed 
dues; otherwise a stockholder cannot enjoy any of the privileges of 
the club, but ma}- vote at all meetings of stockholders. A stockholder 
may haye but one vote in the affairs of the club, regardless of the 
number of shares of stock he may hold. This is rather a unique 
feature, as it gives every member an equal voice in the management 
of the club; consequently, there is no particular object in a member 
owning more than one share of stock except that he receives a 5 per 
cent, return on his investment, provided he becomes a regular member. 
This provision was made so that the club might be perpetuated and 
to avoid the risk of a few" members obtaining control and possibly at 
some future date selling the land at a handsome profit. Under the 
circumstances, there is no reason whj' tliis tract of land should not 
continue indefinitely to be a beautiful park and pleasure ground prac- 
tically in the heart of Ridgewood. 

The Avhole project was founded and built upon the faith in a greater 
and more beautiful Ridgewood and while, possiblj^ it w^as a little ahead 
of its time, it wall, no doubt, serve as a landmark by which all future 
undertakings in Ridgewood may be measured. The purchase and de- 
velopment of the property, including the erection of the clubhouse, 
represent an outlay of more than $100,000. The corporation owns 
102 acres of land, most of which was used in the development of an 
eightcen-hole golf course. Donald Ross, the great golf professional, 
has pronounced it one of the most beautiful spots for a golf course 
in America. 

There is a splendid brook, fed from natural springs, at either end 
of the property. Both of these brooks have been dammed on the lower 
side of the property, creating two beautiful little lakes stretching 
practically across the entire width of the pro])erty. These lakes fur- 
nish hazai'ds for golf in the summer time and ice parks for the skaters 
in winter. In addition to these two bodies of water for skating, an 
artificial skating rink has been created Avitliin twenty-five yards of tlie 
clubhouse. There the broad expanse of hills stretching from the club- 
house to Lincoln Avenue, that furnishes a splendid variety of golf 

135 



PAST AND PRESENT 



during the season, is a wonderful place for tobogganing and coasting 
during the winter. 

Tennis, curling, archery and trapshooting are otlier outdoor sports 
indulged in by the members, tlieir families and guests during the 
various seasons of the year. 

The clubhouse contains a high-class cafe and restaurant, bowling 
alleys, billiard and pool tables and a fine dancing pavilion that fur- 
nishes anuisement and recreation throughout the entire year. The 
views from the clubhouse veranda are of surpassing beauty. On clear 
days and nights the lofty buildings of New York are clearly visible 
in the distance and the surrounding country in every direction fur- 
nishes a panoramic picture beyond description. 

The membersliip at present is limited to two hundred and fifty 
regular and special members, but the limit will, in all probability, be 
raised to three hundred, as there are several applications on the wait- 
ing list and experience indicates that the club can comfortably accom- 
modate three hundred members. 

Town Club 

The present Town Club had its origin a few years prior to 1898 
in an organization then knowai as the Ridgew^ood Juniors, having for 
its original officers: 

President John G. Zabriskie, 

tSeeretary Charles Stewart, 

Treasurer Frank C. Smack. 

This organization consisted of nine members : John G. Zabriskie, 
J. Robert Maltbie, Frank C. Smack, Charles Van Dien, Charles Stewart, 
Fred Bykeeper, Everett Hopper, AVilliam Haight and Fred Z. Board. 

The Juniors grew in numbers and in 1898 termed themselves the 
White Stars, a little later increasing to such proportions as to warrant 
tlie renting of a home at w-hat is now^ No. 23 Hope Street. Later 
rooms in Hutton Hall were rented. 

In 1901 they were incorporated as the White Stars. The organiza- 
tion papers, dated June 14, 1901, specified that it was to be "An 
association of less than five hundred members associated for the en- 
couragement and practice of indoor and outdoor athletics." These 
papers were signed by John G. Zabriskie, then President; Herbert A. 
Obrig, Secretary ; Frank C. Smack, Treasurer, and also by John Robert 
Maltbie, Joseph F. Carrigan, Jr., and Charles W. Eichells, Jr., acting 
for the club. Shortly afterward the club purchased the property at 
South j\Iaple Avenue, where in June, 1904, the clubhouse was opened. 
The house has since been acquired by the F. & A. M. of Ridgewood. 

Under date of July 22, 1912, the amended certificate of incorpora- 
tion was filed changing the name from the "White Star Athletic 
Club" to the "Town Club of Ridgewood." This amended certificate 
was signed by the following trustees : John B. Cavagnero, Edward 
Maxon, W^illiam C. Siegert, Harold Dwight, Frederick Pfeiffer, Bayly 
Hipkins, Thomas P. Walls. A. S. Maerz, M. F. Bargebuhr and John 
G. Zabriskie. At that time Walter L. Dawson w^as President and Robert 
V. Bates, Secretary. 

137 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

This amended certificate specified as the purposes of the Town Club 
the "engaging in all forms and classes of athletic sports and generally 
to promote and maintain social intercourse among, to encourage the 
literary pursuits of, and to provide entertainment and recreation for 
its members." 

During the winter of 1912-1913, the present property on North 
Maple Avenue, consisting of approximately 12 acres, was purchased. 
Because the Town Club had always taken a lively interest in local 
affairs, it consented to sell the Ridgewood Avenue property previously 
used b}^ the White Stars as an athletic field, to the Village to become a 
part of the new high school site. 

Carrying out the purposes of the organization, the club now pro- 
vides for its members bowling on four excellent alleys, billiards, pool, 
whist and other card games, library, dancing and ballroom in the club- 
house, baseball and tennis on the grounds, there being five excellent 
courts for the latter game. Ladies have the privilege of the clubhouse 
as specified by various actions of the Board of Governors, and the 
families of members, as well as the school teachers, have the privileges 
of the tennis courts. The baseball diamond and the football field have 
been gratuitously given over for the use of the Ridgewood High School 
baseball and football teams. 

A limit of 250 has been placed upon the club membership as now 
constituted, and 238 of this number have been secured. 

Paramus Valley PliotograpMc Association 

On March 23, 1903, a number of amateur photographers met in the 
evening in the Tower Room of the Y. M. C. A. Building — the Opera 
House — to consider the question of organizing. In April the Paramus 
Valley Photographic Association was launched with the folloAving mem- 
bership : 

President Hexry W. Hales, 

Vice-Presidoii C. H. Lomax Mitchell, 

Secretary I. P. Lawton, 

Treasurer A. A. Fitzhugh. 

Everet L. Zabriskie, Jos. Carrigan, Leonard A. Smith, Austin Hanks, 
S. S. McCready, Maurice Hopkins, P. G. Delamater, H. D. Hartley, 
F. H. Howland, Peter 0. Terheun, Theodore Obrig, and George Fer- 
guson. At intervals the membership was augmented by the addition 
of the following: G. D. Clippel, H. V. Townsend, H. W. Wilson, W. H. 
Moore, W. J. Tonkin, Chas. A. Throckmorton, Jos. J. Smith, Harvey 
Blauvelt, E. W. Cobb, Jas. J. Bailey, Geo. M. Schinzel and A. Lee Don. 

The declared purpose of the association was the "advancement of 
the science and art of photography. ' ' Of those who were enrolled, there 
Avere a few who devoted most of their spare time to photographic work, 
and these were the ones upon Avhom the labor devolved when an outing 
or an exhibition was to be organized. Monthly meetings were held and 
were well attended. 

In June, 1903, the first annual exhibition was given in the room of 
the Library Association, First National Bank Building. On this occa- 



PAST AND PRESENT 



aioii, more than four Imiulrcd i)hotographs were shown and, in addition 
to the prints exhibited, there were many lantern slides and transparen- 
cies, all of wliieh had been i)roduced by membei's. The exhibition was 
well attended and the association was encouraged to greater effort. 

The 1904 exhibit was well received and the work of the members 
showed much improvement both in choice of subjects and composition. 
The artistic discrimination was notable and the distinction between the 
ordinary amateur photograph of the preceding season and the later 
work of the members was accentuated by comparison. 

In the 1905 exhibition the association conducted a competition open 
to all amateurs, without regard to membership. Ten solid silver cups 
were provided as prizes. Twenty entrants displayed more than four 
hundred prints in Hutton Hall. Nineteen persons entered 197 pictures 
in the several competitive classes. A feature of the exhibit was a col- 
lection of 33 photographs of old houses in Bergen County, all of which 
were of historic value. This was the work of Mr. B. H. AUbee, then 
Vice-President of the Bergen County Historical Society. A notable 
fact in connection with the display was the contribution of specimens 
of photographic skill by amateurs residing in distant towns ancl cities — • 
Hackensack, N. J.; Detroit, Mich.; Bristol, England; Portland, Me.; 
Allendale, N. J., and Brooklyn, N. Y. On the evening of the second day, 
the exhibition was closed with the display of 225 stereopticon views, 
the product of home talent. 

In the meantime, the association members made excursions into the 
regions about Ridgewood in all kinds of weather and many were the 
unique pictures made in spring, summer, autumn and winter. There 
were many requests for the loan of photos for exhibition in the fairs 
and entertainments of other clubs. The meetings were often enlivened 
by demonstrations of methods of working, from the choosing of the 
point of view" from which to obtain the best results of light and shade, 
to the development of original ideas of mounting and framing the 
resultant print. 

Woman's Cluh of Ridgewood, N. J. 

One of Ridgewood 's most valued assets is its Woman's Club which 
was organized in 1909, federated in 1910 and later incorporated in 
1914. The following served as the original officers: 

President MRS. WILLIAM F. Alle>% 

„ -7 . (Mrs. Charles W. Stockton and 

Itce-Presidents -^ ^^^^ Charles A. Deshon, 

Recording Secretary Mrs. Cornelius Dobemus, 

Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Lansing P. Wood 

Treasurer Mrs. Duncan D. Chaplin. 

The purposes for which the club was organized were the mutual 
improvement of its members through study and social intercourse and 
the active promotion of civic and social betterment. The clul) has de- 
partments of music, history and travel, drama and literature, and home 
economics. Civics and current events are also discussed. 

The membership is divided as follows : Active 326 ; Honorary 14 ; 
Inactive 2; making a total of 342. 

139 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The Woman's Club of Upper Ridgewood 

The "Woman's Club of Upper Ridgewood was organized November 
20, 1912. The original officers were : 

President ^Iks. Charles K. Aixen, 

Seeretary Mrs. E. A. Nichols, 

Treasurer Mrs. E. H. Portsmore. 

There are at present 40 members in the club. 

The purpose of the organization is to promote neighborly interest, 
and the work done by the club has this purpose always before it in its 
philanthropic, social and school work. 

College Cluh 

The College Club Avas organized in September, 1913, by women 
graduates of colleges, residing in Ridgewood. The officers elected at 
the time of organization were :- 

President Miss Nell B. Doremus, 

Vice-President Mrs. 'I'heodore S. Hope, 

Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. Rith Wood ( 'admus. 

Assistant Secretary Miss Raexa Ryersox. 

The original purpose was to aid in establishing the Woman's Col- 
lege of New Jersey at Rutgers, but that plan was abandoned in 1915 
by the State Leaders, so at present the club is interested in establish- 
ing a girls' scholarship fund. The organization has 35 members. 

The League for Creative Work 

The League for Creative Work Avas organized in April, 1914, with 
the purpose of producing original Avork as Avriters, artists and musicians. 
The original officers Avere : 

President Mrs. Lansing P. Wood. 

T ice-President Mrs. .Tames B. Parsons, 

Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. William F. Sroufe. 

The present membership numbers nineteen. 

Garden Cluh of Ridgewood 

The Garden Club of RidgcAvood Avas organized in November, 1914. 
The object of the club is to broaden and increase its knoAvledge of 
growing things by an exchange of ideas and experiences at periodical 
meetings of its members; also to stimulate intelligent and artistic gar- 
dening. 

Its membership numbers 60. Men living in Ridgewood and vicinity, 
having gardens in Avhich an actiA-e interest is taken and over Avhich a 
personal supervision is exercised, only are eligible for membership. 
Incidentally, it is the only garden club of men Avithin a very consid- 
erable radius of Ncav York City, JMonthly meetings are held at Avhich 
papers prepared by members and dealing Avith their OAvn experiences, 
are read. Discussions of A-arious garden problems that constantly arise 
are entered into and plans for the exchange of plants are perfected. 
Members Avho have been delegated to visit garden club shows and nurs- 

140 



PAST AND PRESENT 



cries report their findings to the club and professional talent is engaged 
to lecture from time to time. A systematic distribution of flowers to 
the hospitals is also a very pleasant feature of the club's work. Two 
shows a year are given, in June and September, to which the public is 
invited. These shows not onl.y include flowers, but fruits and vege- 
tables. 

The officers of the club, all of whom have served since the organi- 
zation, are :■ 

J'rcsident Robert L. Roe. 

Vice-President Stanley R. Walker, 

Secretary-Treasurer E. T. Sowter. 

Ridge wood Rifle Cliib 

The Ridgewood Rifle Club was organized in October, 1915, with 
a charter membership of about 20. AfRliation was at once effected with 
the National Rifle Association of America. The club 's membership soon 
rose to nearly 50 and it has become one of Ridgewood 's most popular 
organizations. 

Under the guidance of the first olflcers, 

President Daniel R. Bacon, 

Vice-President A. A. Winters, 

Secretary A. L. Forman, 

Treasurer A. L. CoBUBN, 

Executive Officer Dr. H. S. Willard, 

the first year of the club's existence has been a most successful one. 
A range for indoor shooting was secured in the old cement works on 
Spring Avenue and many a hotly contested competition has been held 
there among the members and with teams from neighboring towns. 

Man}^ members who, a year ago scarcely knew what a rifle was in- 
tended for, have developed surprising expertness, so much so that to 
date the club team has never been beaten in a match and a number of 
the men wear National emblems attesting their prowess as sharpshooters 
or marksmen. 

The club has in prospect the establishment of an outdoor range upon 
which the regular army service rifle may be used. 

The privilege of the range is extended to students in the Ridgewood 
High School and a large numl)er of the upper classmen are educating 
themselves in the use of firearms. 

PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS 

Ridgewood has not devoted all its efforts to the securing of pleasure 
and amusement by means of social intercourse, but has found enjoy- 
ment in preserving the memories of its ancestors and in safeguarding 
the future of its children. This patriotic spirit has found expression 
in the following organizations :- 

Daughters of the Revolution 

The Society of the Daughters of the Revolution Avas organized in 
1891, its object being "to perpetuate the patriotic spirit of the men 
and women who achieved American Independence ; to commemorate 

141 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

prominent events connected with the War of the Kevolution ; to collect, 
publish and preserve the rolls, records and historic documents relating 
to that period; to encourage the study of the country's history; to 
promote sentiments of friendship and common interest among the mem- 
bers of the Society, and to provide a home for and furnish assistance 
to such Daughters of the Revolution as may be impoverished, when 
it is in their power to do so." 

In May, 1900, a chapter called the Ramapo Valley Chapter, Daugh- 
ters of the Revolution, was founded in Ridgewood by Mrs. Richard 
W. Hawes, who being a member of the Montclair Chapter, was ap- 
pointed Organizing Regent by the General Secretary in New York. 
The five charter members were Miss Rebecca W. Hawes, Mrs. Richard 
Hawes, Mrs. T. A. Strange, Miss Martha E. Smith and Miss Florence 
de la M. Bunce. Since the organization of this chapter there has been 
but one Historian-Registrar, Miss Rebecca W. Hawes, who was elected 
to this office for life. The first Regent, Miss Florence de la M. Bunce, 
served for a period of fourteen years. 

The meetings are held at the homes of the members, of Avhom there 
are now forty, with the exception of the June meeting, when, in com- 
memoration of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the chapter makes its annual 
pilgrimage to the Revolutionary intrenchments at Hillburn, New York, 
marked by them Avith a granite tablet. 

Junior Order U^iited Avierican Meclianics 

This patriotic order Avas organized in Ridgewood on February 18, 
1897, with 125 charter members and with these original officers :- 

Counciler J. D. Van Ejieurgh, 

Vice-Counciler 8. 0. Giles, 

Financial Secretary Hervey Terhune, 

Recording Secretary J. Blauvelt Hopper, 

Treasurer I. A. Wall. 

Its objects are — 
First — To maintain and promote the interests of Americans and shield 

them from the depressing effects of foreign competition. 
Second — To assist Americans in obtaining employment. 
Third — To encourage Americans in business. 
Fourth — To establish a Sick and Funeral Fund. 

Fifth — To maintain the Public School System of the United States of 
America and to prevent sectarian interference therewith, and up- 
hold the reading of the Holy Bible therein. 
The membership now numbers 280. 

Independence Day Association of Ridgewood, N. J., Inc. 

In 1910 the Independence Day Association held its first meeting 
and elected as officers the following: 

President ^Mrs. J. E. Coyle, 

Vice-President I\Irs. F. F. Kxothe, 

Secretary ]\Irs. J. Turner, 

Treasurer Mrs. \Y. J. Tonkin. 

After two successful years, it Avas incorporated in 1912. 

142 



PAST AND PRESENT 



The purposes for Avhicli this corporation was formed are to discour- 
age the general public use of dangerous firearms and fireworks; to 
foster and stimulate a patriotic spirit and sentiment in the citizens and 
children of Ridgewood, N. J., and vicinity, by observing Independence 
Day in a fitting manner; the same to be accomplished by parades, 
pageants, mass meetings, fireworks and other suitable and appropriate 
observances, and in general to do all things in connection with the 
foregoing that may be necessary and expedient. 

The membership consists of the subscribers to its fund and in 1916 
it numbered 238 individuals and firms and nine organizations. 

The TJieodosia Burr Cliapter, Junior Sons and Daughteis of the 

Revolution 

The Junior Auxiliary of the Ramapo Valley Chapter, Daughters 
of the Revolution, was organized in June, 1912, with the object of 
"encouraging patriotic spirit in citizens of the vicinity in every prac- 
ticable Avay and to extend its influence in this direction to other places^ 
as opportunity occurs, and to promote friendship and common interest 
among the members of the chapter." 

With Miss Edna Bunce as Director, and five charter members, the 
following officers were elected: — • 

President Yauohn Keeley, 

Secretary C'oxstaxce Feench, 

Treasurer MoRTOX Adams. 

In 1913, the name was changed to Penelope Yon Princips Chapter, 
Junior Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. 

In 1914, a change in the name was suggested and the Chapter is 
now knoA\ai as the Theodosia Burr Chapter, Junior Sons and Daugh- 
ters of the Revolution, Theodosia Burr being the daughter of Widow 
Theodosia Provost and Aaron Burr, and directly associated with this 
vicinity. 

The Theodosia Burr Chapter now has an enrollment of 35 members, 
having the greatest increase in membership during the year of 1914-15 
of any Junior Chapter in the State. 

Company L, Fifth Regiment, N. G., N. J. 

Company L was mustered in on February 20, 1913. The original 
officers were : 

Captain Joseph L. Smith, 

First Lieute7iant Horace G. Clevelaxd. 

Second Lieutenant John IMerrihew. 

Upon the resignation of Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Merrihew, Joseph R. 
Brackett l^ecame First Lieutenant and Gene E. Pattison became Second 
Lieutenant. Lieutenant Brackett was lost by death and Lieutenant 
Pattison resigned. 

The company was mustered in to federal service in June, 1916, with 
Captain Joseph J. Smith commanding, the junior officers being — 

First Lieutenant . ..' Joseph C. Fitts, 

Second Lieutenant Samuel T. Bateman. 

143 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

On the date of mobilization, June 19, 1916, the company had 65 
men on its rolls and was sent with its regiment, the Fifth New Jersey 
Infantry, N. G., to Sea Girt, N. J., at which place the New Jersey 
brigade was to mobilize. The Fifth Regiment entrained for Douglas, 
Ariz., on «Tune 13th. On its return to the East, the regiment reached 
Paterson November 3, 1916. After a parade in Paterson, the out-of- 
town companies returned to their quarters and Company L was mus- 
tered out of the federal service on November 14, 1916. 

Several acres of ground on East Franklin Avenue were donated to 
the Ridgewood Armory Association by Mrs. Joseph W. Edwards for 
the purpose of erecting an armory thereon for the use of Company L. 
The foundation has already been completed with the aid of funds raised 
m Ridgewood. 

At present active efforts are being made to secure the $25,000 ap- 
propriation for this building authorized by the State Legislature. 

Paramus Chapter of tlie New Jersey Sociefy, Sons of the American 

Revolution 

The Paranu^s Chapter No. 6, New Jersey Society of the Sons of the 
American Revolution was organized through the efforts of Mr. R. T. 
Wilson, with 35 charter members, on December 18, 1913. Those offi- 
cers elected at the first meeting were : 

President Jitbge Corxelius Doremus, 

Vice-President Kichard T. Wilsox, 

Secretary Joseph B. Egberts, 

Treasurer L. F. Halsted, 

Historian E. L. Zabriskie. 

The objects of this society are declared to be patriotic, historical 
and educational, and include those intended or designed to perpetuate 
the memory of the men who, by their services or sacrifices during the 
war of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the 
i^.merican people; to unite and promote fellowship among their de- 
scendants; to inspire them and the community at large with a more 
profound reverence for the principles of the Government founded by 
our forefathers ; to encourage historical research in relation to the 
American Revolution; to acquire and preserve the records of the indi- 
vidual services of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, relics 
and landmarks ; to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate 
memorials ; to celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of 
the war and of the Revolutionary period ; to foster true patriotism ; 
to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to 
carry out the purposes expressed in the preamble of the Constitution 
of our country and the injunctions of "Washington in his farewell ad- 
dress to the American people. 

The Chapter has now 51 members. 

The National Security League — Ridgewood Branch 

One of Ridgewood 's newest organizations is the branch of the Na- 
tional Security League which was organized on April 6, 1916, through 

144 



PAST AND PRESENT 



the efforts of Mr. W. E. Remington, who was elected Chairman. With 
him are serving — 

Yice'Chairman B. F. Sloat, 

Secretary Ceoege M. Schinzel, 

Assistant Secreiary JrosoN Salisbury, 

Treasurer James D. Craig. 

The following, with the officers, compose the Executive Committee: 
Lewis R. Conldin, Judge Cornelius Doremus, W. D. Ferris, Joseph 
Fitts, T. J. Foster, J. J. Glynn, E. B. Lilly, George N. Pfeiffer, 0. B. 
Surpless and R. T. Wilson. 

The National Security League is non-political, non-partisan and 
absolutely neutral. Its object is to arouse the American public to a 
sense of the nation's naval and military weakness, of the national 
menace that attends the present state of unpreparedness and, through 
public mass meetings, petitions and resolutions, to bring pressure to 
bear upon representatives in Congress to provide an adequate army 
and navy as determined by the expert army and navy officers. 

The Ridgewood branch has more than 300 members who are also 
interested in increasing the membership of the American Red Cross. 

Bergen County Historical Society. 

An organization of interest to the citizens of Ridgewood is the 
Bergen County Historical Society which has been extremely active 
in delving into the past and has brought to light much of value. In 
1895 an exhibition was given in the Opera House under the auspices 
of this society. There were shown coins, ancient documents, weapons, 
clothing, implements of industry, family trifles and records, and an 
inspection of the articles displayed was a liberal education in the his- 
tory of the past. People throughout this section responded with en- 
thusiasm and were surprised to learn that there was here so much of 
interest relating to our past history. 

Among the past presidents of this organization are Judge Cornelius 
Doremus, Judge David Zabriskie and Everett L. Zabriskie of Ridge- 
wood, while R. T. Wilson is at present a vice-president. 

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS 

Ridgewood is not without its political activities nor its forces whieli 
have influence for good government, as is evidenced by the five active 
organizations in the Village. 

The Woman's Suffrage Association 

In 1894, as the only member in this part of Bergen County of the 
New Jersey State Suffrage Association, Miss Rebecca AV. Hawes circu- 
lated a petition for the restoration of full school suffrage for women 
and obtained a hundred signatures in Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus. 

At a meeting of the Ramapo Valley Cliapter, Daughters of the 
American Revolution, it was voted that the members in favor of suf- 
frage should call a meeting and invite Mrs. Minnie Reynolds to organ- 

145 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

ize a branch of the Woman's Political Union of New Jersey. The 
meeting was held at the home of Miss Hawes, Corsa Terrace, on 
November 21, 1913. At a second meeting held a month later at the 
residence of Mrs. F. F, Knothe, The AVoman's Political Union was 
organized with the following officers: 

President Mrs. Cakl M. Vail, 

First Vice-President Mrs. C. W. MacDonough, 

Second Vice-President Mrs. Frances H. Walton, 

Secretary IMrs. Cynthia Mitchell, 

Treasurer INIrs. George Etesse, ■ 

Press Agent Mrs. F. H. Valentine, 

Auditor Mrs. F. F. Knothe. 

In October, 1916, The Woman's Politicg,l Union was absorbed by 
the Woman's Suffrage Association of New Jersey. 

Ridgeivood Democratic Club 

The Democratic Club was organized in 1892. Its original officers 
were : 

President J. B. Cavagnaro, 

Vice-President Dr. G. M. Ockford, 

Secretary .Joh n J. Murphy, 

Treasurer Frank A. Baxter. 

The object of the organization was to promote Democracy along the 
lines laid down by Thomas Jefferson, to establish good government by 
the election of honest and efficient men to office, with the greatest good 
to the greatest number and special privileges to none. There are 95 
members in the club. 

Voters' League 

The Voters' League was organized August 29, 1910. The constitu- 
tion provides, "its object shall be to secure and maintain the maximum 
of efficiency in the government of Ridgewood". The adoption in 1911, 
by the Village of Ridgewood, of its present form of government was 
due to the energetic campaign conducted by the officers and members 
of the League in presenting to the citizens the merits of the common 
form of government. 

Its first officers were : 

President Lewis R. Conklin, 

Vice-President Samuel S. McCurdy, 

Treasurer Frank A. Thayer, 

Secretary S. S. Walstrum, 

and the Executive Committee which was composed of the above officers 
and John T. Hanks, J. McGuinness, Jr., Edward J. Miller, Frank F. 
Knothe and Harvey H. Palmer. 

Republican Club 
The present Republican Club was organized in 1912 with — 

President I. E. Hutton, 

Secretary Frank Stevens, 

Treasurer W. 0. Dietrich. 

14G 



PAST AND PRESENT 



It was re-organized on January 20, 1916. 

The object of the club is to carry out most effectively the principles 
and good government as expressed by Republicanism; to further the 
interests of the Republican ticket and by that means secure the election 
of Republican candidates. The club has about 75 members. 

Citizens and Taxpayers' Association 

The Citizens and Taxpayers' Association was organized in 1913. 
The following were its original officers : 

President I. E. Hutton, 

Vice-President B. F. Sloat, 

Secretary R. L. Febnbach, 

Treasurer F. L. Dooly. 

Chairman of Executive Committee W. O. Dietrich. 

The Citizens' and Taxpayers' Association is a non-partisan body of 
voters and has about 300 members. 

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 

Another result of the "get-together" spirit manifested by the people 
of Ridgewood has resulted in the organization of branches of seven 
fraternal orders: 

Fidelity Lodge No. 113, F. & A. M. 

The Ridgewood Branch of the Masonic Order, established in 1869, 
is the oldest existing organization in Ridgewood. The original officers 
were: 

Master John M. Knapp, 

Senior Warden Robert B. Cable, 

Junior Warden John A. Ackerman. 

The present membership numbers 245, 

Paramus Valley Council No. 1597, Royal Arcanum 

The Paramus Valley Council No. 1597 of the Royal Arcanum was 
organized in Ridgewood on March 5, 1895, with the following as the 
original officers: 

Regent Rev. E. H. Cleveland, 

Vice-Regent C. C. West, 

Past Regent C. H. Eddy, 

Orator L. F. Halsted, 

Secretary B.C. Wooster, 

Collector L. N. Taft, 

Treasurer S. W. Orne, 

Chaplain F. H. White, 

Guide J. PI. Oxley, 

Wardeti E. B. Van Horn, 

Sentry F. A. Ross, 

( Alexander Bell, 

Trustees \ .John R. Stevens, 

( H. G. White. 

Representative to Grand Council C. H. Eddy 

Alternate to Grand Council Rev. E. H. Cleveland, 

Medical Examiner Dr. G, INI, Ockford, 

147 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The original membership in 1895 was 32. It has now increased 
to 303. 

The Royal Arcanum is a fraternal beneficiary order founded in 
Boston in 1877. It has a membership of about 250,000 and has paid 
to the widows and orphans of its members $185,000,000, of which over 
$100,000 has been paid in Ridgewood. 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows 

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a secret, beneficiary so- 
ciety, having for its purpose the elevation of human character. While 
sick and funeral benefits are paid, Oddfellowship is not an insurance 
society and this feature of the work should at all times be recognized 
as secondary to the great work of the organization which consists of 
"visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the dead and edu- 
cating the orphan ' '. It therefore presents a broad platform upon which 
mankind may unite in offices of human benefaction. 

The order in America was founded April 26, 1819, in Baltimore, 
by Thomas Wildey, a young mechanic, and four others. It began to 
grow and to spread into other localities and at the present time its 
membership extends throughout the civilized world and numbers 2,190,- 
000. Since the year 1830, prior to which no records were kept, $170,- 
000,000 has been paid out for the relief of members of the order. 

Ridgewood Lodge No. 260, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted on the after- 
noon of November 7, 1900, with twelve charter members, Thomas E. 
English, Charles F. Bechtlofft, George A. Stevens, Theodore H. Meade, 
William H. Fogg, John Q. Archdeacon, Frank M. Merritt, James H. 
Salisbury, John G. Hopper, James B. Christopher, John McCroden 
and George N. Winters. The first four named are the only charter 
members remaining at the present time. 

The first officers installed at the institution were:- 

ISlolle Orand Thomas E. English, 

Vice Grand George N. Winters, 

Recording Secretary John Q. Archdeacon, 

Financial Secretary George A. Stevens, 

Treasurer Frank M. Merritt. 

In the same evening 35 were admitted to membership by initiation. 
At present the membership numbers 51. 

Brancli 991, National Association of Letter Carriers 

The Ridgewood Branch of this national organization received its 
charter on April 22, 1904. The following served as original officers: 

President Robert Campbell. 

Secretary Peter R. Titus, 

Treasurer Arthur Storms. 

The purpose of the association is to promote social and fraternal 
affairs, to improve and equalize labor conditions in the service and to 
increase the efficiency of the service. 

The membership consists of the eight regular city carriers and their 
two substitutes. 

148 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Ridgewood Chapter No. 39, Order of the Eastern Star 

The Kidgewood Chapter No. 39, Order of the Eastern Star, held its 
first meeting February 5, 1909, at which the following were the original 
executives elected: 

Worthy Matron Mrs. M. V. Tonkin, 

Worthy Patron Mr. P. G. Delamater, 

Associate Matron Mrs. B. G. Schinzel, 

Secretary Mr. W. J. Tonkin. 

Court Midland Park No. 172, Foresters of America 

The Court Midland Park No. 172, Foresters of America, was or- 
ganized on November 15, 1910, and incorporated on May 2, 1911. 
The original officers were : 

Chief Ranger .Thomas Post, 

Sub-Chief Ranger Louis Carlough, 

Past Chief Ranger John Marr, 

Lecturer Daniel M. Caxkoen, 

Financial Secretary Charles J. Christopher, 

Recording Secretary William J. Benjamin, 

Treasurer John Robertson, 

Senior Woodward Nicholas Heemstra, 

Junior Woodward George Phillips, 

Senior Beadle Adam B. Goetchins, 

■Junior Beadle Caradog P. Morgan, 

Physician Dr. Joseph Payne, 

{Hubbard Ferguson, 
John Phillips, 
John R. Stott. 

The organization has for its purpose the raising and maintaining 
of a fund for the purpose of defraying the burial expenses of members 
and their wives, and the rendering of assistance to members when sick 
and unable to follow their employment, and providing medical attend- 
ance and medicine. There are at present 75 members. 

Ridgewood Council No. 1736, Knights of Colunibus 

This order was organized in Ridgewood in June, 1914. It had as 
its original officers the following : 

Grand Knight Paul A. JNIcGoldrick, 

Deputy Grand Knight Henry Johnson, 

Chancellor P. L. Alberse, 

Recording Secretary J. B. Hesketh, 

Financial Secretary J. G. Crowley, 

Treasurer T. Moran, 

Lecturer W. W. O'Neil, 

Advocate T. P. Connor, 

Warden J. S. Hand, 

Inside Guard J. H. 1 rey, Jr., 

Outside Guard W. Nalley, 

{W. 3I0RAN, 
W. Dermody, 
Y. Hand, 
Chaplain Rev. P. F. Pindar. 

The Knights of Columbus have as their objectives : Charity, Patriot- 

149 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

ism, Unity, Education and Brotherly Love. The Ridgewood Council 
has a membership of about 100. 

MUSICAL CLUBS 

Eidgewood is fortunate in possessing two musical clubs, one com- 
posed of Avomen and one composed of men. Not only do they encourage 
the study of music but they give four private concerts a year which 
always prove a delight to tliose fortunate enough to be present. 

The Orpheus Club 

The Orpheus Club was organized in 1909. Its object was to bring 
together the male singers of Ridge wood for mutual enjoyment and to 
give private concerts to be supported by the active and subscribing 
members. 

The club was organized with ten active members. The following 
officers were elected for the first year: 

President G. U. White, 

Vice-President t. R. Powley, 

Hecretary-Treasurer F. F. Kxothe, 

Librarian Wilbur Morris, 

Chairman Music Committee G. R. Young. 

The club chose as conductor, Mr. Dewitt Clinton, Jr., who on Octo- 
ber 5, 1914, was succeeded by the present conductor, Wilbur A. Luyster. 
In the spring of 1910, Mr. Bevier Smith was selected as accompanist. 
Two private invitation concerts were given in May and June of 1910. 
The active membership had then grown to fifteen. 

In October, 1910, the club began its second season by planning to 
give two public concerts each season. An associate membership was 
established. No tickets were sold for the concerts, but active and asso- 
ciate members received and distributed them as invitations to the con- 
cert. This practice has been maintained through the seven seasons of 
the club's successful history. 

The active members consist of 22 tenors and 23 bassos. There is 
an associate membership of 140. 

The Cecilia Society 

The Cecilia Society, composed of women of RidgcAvood, Avas organ- 
ized in November, 1912. Its original officers Avere: 

President Mrs. J. Purcell, 

Recording Secretary Mrs. Wilfred Kurth, 

Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer . . . .Mrs. Herman Fritz, 

Librarian Mrs. E. E. Alley, 

Assistant Librarian Mrs. C. F. Osgood, 

Chairman of Arrangenu itts Mrs. W. H. Haddox. 

Musical Director JNIrs. Elizabeth D. Leonard. 

The object of this society is to encourage the study of music, par- 
ticularly choral and instrumental music, the study and discussion of 
musical literature and the expounding of such literature by its members 

150 



PAST AND PRESENT 



and various distinguished musical artists. The society has a member- 
ship of 200. 

WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS 

The people of Ridgewood have always taken an active interest in 
civic matters and the general welfare of the community and its citizens. 
As proof of this concern, there have developed within the past twenty 
years, eight organizations which are now doing effective work. 

Village Improvement Association 

The Village Improvement Association was organized by the women 
of the Village on November 4, 1897, for the purpose of improving and 
beautifying the Village. The first officers were: 

I'lesident Mrs. nE L. Berier, 

First Vice-President Mrs. Allen Macnaughton, 

Second Vice-President Mrs. I. E. Hutton, 

Recording Secretary Miss Houston, 

Corresponding Secretary Miss Carrigan, 

Treasurer Mrs. G. U. White. 

Among the several committees were such as — Children's Auxiliary, 
Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals, Street, Sanitary, Hu- 
mane, Railroad, Penny Savings Bank, Park, Library and Preservation 
of Natural Beauties. As shown elsewhere in this book, the results of 
the association 's efforts are prominent among the achievements of Ridge- 
wood 's citizens. 

In 1904 the various committees were disbanded because several ob- 
jects had been attained as, for instance, the street cleaning and the 
systematic removal of garbage. The Library Committee continued its 
work. The Village Trustees allowed the association $300 a year for the 
support of the Library and the Commissioners have continued this 
appropriation. 

The Village Improvement Association was incorporated in January, 
1916, its only activity being the operation of the Public Library, 

The Ridgeivood Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

The Ridgewood Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
v.as organized in 1899 with a membership of less than twenty men and 
^^'omen. Cases of cruelty were then tried in Hackensack. The meet- 
ings were at first held at the home of Mrs. George N, Oekford, but later 
a room in the Library Building was secured and was kept open for 
several hours each day for the purpose of receiving complaints. 

The original officers were: 

President Mrs. C. C. Harrison, 

First Vice-Presiden,t Mrs. George N. Ockford, 

Second Vice-President Miss Bertha Mills, 

Third Vice-President Miss F. G. Vietor, 

Secretary Mrs. F. J. Walton, 

Treasurer Mrs. .1. Carshaw, 

Veterinarian Dr. Holdenby. 

On account of death and the change of residence of several members, 
the society at one time became inactive, but was finally reorganized 

151 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

and its charter returned. Membership and activities increased so that 
now cases are tried in Ridgewood and the Village has turned over to 
the society the care of all animals. 

During the presidency of Mrs. H. A. Bonynge, a drinking fountain 
was erected at the intersection of Spring and Maple Avenues and a 
shelter in the town yard was built for housing animals. 

At present the society is caring for between 200 and 300 animals 
a year, besides handling numerous complaints. The society is also 
working hard, Avith the assistance of the Semi-Centennial Committee, 
to raise funds for a handsome granite combination drinking fountain, 
designed by Mr. H. E. Paddon, to be erected in the Plaza. 

Wo7na7i's Auxiliary to tlie Young ^Icu's Christian Association 

The Woman's Auxiliary to the Young Men's Christian Association 
was formed for the purpose of assisting the Y. M. C. A. and its work 
for young men. It was organized on October 14, 1902, with the fol- 
lowing officers : 

President Mrs. R. M. Winans, 

First Vice-President jNIrs. I. E. Hutton, 

Second Vice-President Mrs. C. V. R. Berdan, 

Secretary Mrs. A. P. Crouter, 

Treasurer ]Mrs. F. K. Matthews. 

The membership consists of 220 mothers and women of the Village. 

Social Service Association 

The Social Service Association, originally called the Relief Society 
of Ridgewood, was formed as the result of the co-operation of Mrs. 
H. H. Palmer, Mrs. S. D. Graydon and Mr. F. F. Knothe. Mrs. Palmer 
had been active in relieving suffering in Midland Park and AVortendyke 
and Mrs. Graydon had been caring for needy families in the Village. 
While doing this work they conferred with Mr. Knothe, who asked 
several men to join him in providing a nurse to investigate and relieve 
conditions in RidgeAvood. The result Avas that the Village Improve- 
ment Association called a meeting of representatives of all churches 
and organizations in RidgcAvood and the Relief Society Avas formed on 
February 24, 1909. 

As the constitution states, tlie objects Avere: 

1. To foster harmonious co-operation among the various religious and 
benevolent organizations of RidgeAvood and vicinity and to avoid the 
overlapping of relief Avork. 

2. To investigate all applications for relief, to dispense adequate relief 
for suitable cases and to procure Avork for needy persons. 

3. To repress mendicancy. 

4. To promote the general welfare of the poor by social and sanitary 
reform and the inculcation of habits of providence and self-de- 
pendence. 

Every department of the society's Avork is completely severed from 
all questions of religious belief, politics, and nationality. 

152 



PAST AND PRESENT 



The first officers were : 

President ^lus. F. F. Knothe, 

First Vice-President INIrs. De L. Bekieb, 

Second Vice-President Mes. R. Woktendyke, 

Secretary Mrs. R. W. Hawes. 

Treasurer Mrs. A. C. Brookes. 

In 1912, the Avork of the society warranted the help of a trained 
social worker for part time, and the Board of Education engaged the 
same worker for part time as school nurse. Later each organization 
secured a Avorker of its own. 

On May 6, 1913, the Belief Society was incorporated under the 
name of Social Service Association. 

In May, 1916, there were 429 members. 

Village Christmas Tree Association 

The first Village Christmas Tree was held at the home of Mrs. A. 
E, Tolkamp on East Ridgewood Avenue, Christmas, 1909, at which 
time she and her daughter, Mrs. W. H. Haddon, having conceived the 
idea, provided gifts for a few worthy children, about ten in number. 
A like celebration was held the following year, the number of children 
increasing to about twenty. In 1911 the number having grown too 
great to be accommodated at their home, a number of ladies were inter- 
ested and Prospect Hall was secured for the festivities. 

The following year the entire matter was assumed by the Village 
Christmas Tree Association of Ridgewood, which had been formed with 
the following officers: 

President Vhs. E. T. White, 

Vice-President Mrs. D. A. Garber, 

Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. E. S. Brower. 

The association now consists of about 35 members, embracing every 
church and section of Ridgewood. 

The recipients, now numbering about 200 children, are barred by 
neither creed nor color. The work is carried on entirely through the 
generosity of the Ridgewood people and tlie energy and tireless work 
of the members of the association. 

Upper Ridgewood Association 

In 1910 when a number of newcomers settled in Upper Ridgewood, 
they, together with a few old residents in the neighborhood, organized 
what is now the Upper Ridgewood Association to which every resident 
of Upper Ridgewood and Wastena Park is eligible. The object of the 
association was to improve that new residential section of Ridgewood. 
Meetings were held with frequency Avhenever the Avants of the com- 
munity demanded them and everyone contributed his efforts for the 
general Avelfare. 

The first officers of the association Avere: 

President Louis Chable, 

Vice-President Charles Fairchild, 

Secretary-Treasurer John Kolmar. 

153 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Federated Men's Club 

The Federated Men's Club of the churches of Ridgewood was or- 
ganized September 27, 1910, by the following delegates: — Eev. C. P. 
Pearson, C. S. Chapman, G. W. Martin, L. Wardell, A. E. Tolkamp, 
W. J. Dowling, J. W. Boylston, W. C. Zabriskie, Dr. W. T. Whitney, 
T. J. Foster, Eev. C. 0. Wright and G. A. Schaible. 

The following officers were elected: 

President T. J. Fostek, 

Vice-President Hadley Fobd, 

Secretary H. S. Vi>'Cext, 

Treasurer C. F. Broach. 

This organization has a long list of good deeds accomplished to 
its credit, some of which include practical attempts to better the con- 
dition of the colored population of our Village, and advocating the 
use of school buildings for civic, social, and educational purposes after 
school hours. 

The organization has also been instrumental in establishing and 
maintaining a camp for boys from the slums of New York where they 
can have at least two weeks of life in the open. Mr. C. S. Chapman 
labored faithfullj^ and efficiently for three years as chairman of the 
committee who had this camp in charge and Mr. W. U. Green has had 
charge of it for two years and greatly enlarged the work which has 
the support of all the people of Ridgewood. 

This organization has ever been ready to lend a helping hand to 
those in distress and has labored diligently to curtail the liquor traffic 
evil, to foster the Big Brother movement, to complete a card index of 
the religious standing of the people of our town — and, in fact, have 
tried to do what they could to make our town a better place to live in. 

The Ridgewood Chapter of the American National Red Cross 

During 1898 the Village Improvement Association undertook to 
conduct during the summer Red Cross work and provided many arti- 
cles for the sick and wounded, but it was not until August 16, 1910, 
that a Ridgewood Chapter of this national institution was organized 
through the efforts of the RidgCAVood Branch of the National Security 
League. 

The original officers Avere : 

President Mk. J. H. Dunning, 

Vice-President Mrs. C. H. Eddy, 

Secretary Mrs. T. J. Foster, 

Treasurer ]\Ir. W. H. Hendricksox. 

The officers, with the following, constituted the Executive Commit- 
tee: — Mrs. J. L. Averill, Mrs. H. C. Christianson, Mrs. W. D. Ferres, 
Mr. W. E. Remington, and Mr. G. N. Orcutt. 

During the summer of 1916, the Surgical Dressing Committee, under 
Mrs. J. L. Averill, made 915 yards of gauze and muslin and 23 pounds 
of cotton into bandages. 

There are 21 active members, 1 sustaining member and 1 life member. 

Publisher's Note: The remarkable residt of this chapter in in- 

154 



PAST AND PRESENT 



creasing its memhership in the early part of the year 1917 to over 2,000, 
or 28 per cent, of the population of the Village, placed Ridgewood as 
holding the record for the most successful campaign for Red Cross 
memhcrs ever held in any city or town in the United States. 

SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS 

To indicate the interest the people of Ridgewood have in the schools 
and welfare of their children in their educational pursuits, mention 
may be made of the parents' and teachers' associations which co-operate 
with the schools. The fact is noteworthy that this co-operation results 
in better work on the part of the student and a greater understanding 
on the part of the parents and teachers. 

Alumni Association of the Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood, N. J. 

Although interest in an Alumni Association was first aroused in 
1902, it was not until June, 1911, that such an association was organ- 
ized. At that time Everett Shutts was elected President, Edgar Wand- 
less, Vice-President and Secretary, and Miss Grace E. Jones, Treasurer. 

At a re-organization meeting held in September, 1916, a constitution 
and incorporation papers were accepted and a Board of Trustees was 
elected. 

On December 28, 1916, the association w^as duly incorporated and 
a Board of Trustees Avas chosen. Membership in the association con- 
sists of: 

1. Regular graduates of the Ridgewood High School. 

2. Students who have left high school after having completed at least 
two years' study and who make application for membership to the 
association secretary. 

3. Honorary members who may be elected by a two-thirds vote of the 
active members of the association. 

4. Members of the High School Faculty and Board of Education who 
are honorary members as long as they are actively connected with 
the high school. 

The general purpose of the association is to promote and stimulate 
an active interest in and among the members in all that pertains to 
the welfare and progress of the alumni and the high school body gen- 
erally. The definite aim is to establish a scholarship for that member 
of the senior class of the Ridgewood High School who, in the opinion 
of the committee, deserves it most and avIio has fulfilled certain condi- 
tions specified by the Alumni Association. 

Kenilworth Parents, and Teachers' Association 

The Kenilworth Parents, and Teachers' Association was organized 
on February 12, 1912. At that time the following were elected officers: 

President Mr. E. 0. Grover, 

y ice-President Mrs. G. H. Nickerson, 

Secretary Mrs. D. W. Boyd, 

Treasurer Mr. C. Woodm'Orth. 

The object of the association is to provide facilities for bringing the 

155 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

teachers and parents into a closer relationship, to secure more perfect 
co-operation in advancing the moral, intellectual and physical welfare 
of the pupils and in furthering the cause of education in the commun- 
ity. The association has a membership of 67. 

Monroe Home and School Association 

The Monroe Home and School Association was organized in Novem- 
ber, 1915, Avhen the following officers were elected: 

President J. J. Glynn, 

Vice-President Daniel R. Bacon, 

Secretary-Treasurer Miss Elizabeth Sturgess. 

The association has grown to a membership of 170 and has as its 
object the co-operation of the parents with the teachers and the school 
for the welfare of the children. 

Citizens' High School Association 

On December 15, 1915, a committee of 150 citizens was organized 
at the high school and was known as the Citizens' High School Com- 
mittee. The following officers were elected: 

Chairman George M. Sciiinzel, 

Secretary Eugene A. Skehan, 

Treasurer Harvey E. Whitney, 

and the following Executive Committee: 0. B. Surpless, Frederick 
Pfeifer, T. J. Foster, Charles H. Woodman, Clarence Stewart, R. T. 
Wilson, W. J. Klug, Harold F. Dana, George H. Nickerson, Thomas 
P. Connor, C. D. Ireland and B. D. Forster. 

Subsequently the committee resolved itself into a permanent or- 
ganization and the present membership of more than 450 consists of 
the parents of all high school pupils and all residents over eighteen 
years of age who desire to join. There are no dues. 

The objects of the association are to bring before the people of 
Ridgewood the needs of the public school system in general and the 
needs of the high school in particular and to form a medium by which 
the teachers may be brought in contact with the parents of the pupils 
for their mutual understanding and benefit. 

ANTI-LIQUOR ORGANIZATIONS 

Local Option League 

In 1914, certain men of Ridgewood learned to their great astonish- 
ment that all states excepting New Jersey and Pennsylvania had passed 
local option legislation, by which the people through majority home 
rule could control the licensing of the saloon. This knowledge pro- 
voked inquiry as to whether this condition was the will of the people 
of New Jersej^ or whether it was the result of the vote having been 
scientifically controlled against them. 

In that year a petition signed by 2,000 voters of Bergen County was 
presented by a delegation of Ridgewood men to their assemblymen, 
praying for their affirmative vote on a Local Option Bill about to come 

156 



PAST AND PRESENT 



up in the Assembly. Each of the three Bergen County assemblymen 
replied that he would vote as his constituents wanted him to. As not 
one of them recorded his vote in favor of the bill^ it became apparent 
that the people would have to make their will known before the pri- 
maries and election, rather than to waste time and effort in attempting 
to do so afterward. 

The subject then became a matter of votes, the all-potent factor in 
politics. Ridgewood citizens forthwith organized the Bergen County 
Local Option League — Ridgcwood Branch, witli the usual officers, an 
executive committee of 17 and a general committee of 100. The fore- 
most citizens of the Village lined up behind the movement. The matter 
was carried into other sections of the county and similar leagues were 
organized in several municipalities, with working committees and units 
in still other sections. The response everywhere to the movement was 
immediate and aggressive. 

In due time, representatives of all the leagues were brought together 
at a meeting in Ridgewood and a central organization known as the 
Bergen County Local Option League was formed and shortly afterward 
incorporated. 

Woman's Christian Temperance Union 

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in Ridge- 
wood in May, 1915, with the following original officers : 

President Mes. FEA^^K H. Valentine, 

Recording Secretary Mrs. Henry W. Batxis, 

Corresponding Secretary Mrs. F. L. Bailey. 

Treasurer Dr. Lynda E. H. Staff, 

f Mrs. William L. Platt, 
I Mrs. Frank H. White, 
,-.„.,, J Mrs. Herbert Rawson. 

\tce-Presidents ^ ^^^^ Charles G. Welti, 

I Mrs. B. F. Decker, 
I^Mrs. J. H. W.\RD. 

The organization has for its purpose the abolition of the liquor traf- 
fic and its kindred evils by means of church organizations, public senti- 
ment, suffrage, literature, education and training in public schools, and 
the press. 

There are at present 49 active members, three honorary members 
and three well-wishers. 

THE RmCEWOOD MEDICAL SOCIETY 

The Ridgewood Medical Society was organized in the fall of 1911 
and incorporated under the Laws of the State of New Jersey. Its object, 
as set forth in the constitution, is "to advance medical science, promote 
friendly relations among its members, to educate and protect the public 
in preventive medicine and hygiene, and to safeguard the material in- 
terests of the profession. 

"Every legally registei'cd physician residing and practicing in Ber- 
gen County and who is of good moral and professional standing shall 
be eligible for membership in the society. 

157 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

"Eegular meetings shall be held on the third Wednesday in each 
and every month at 8 :45 P.M. at such place as from time to time may 
be determined by the society." 

From its inception the society has been a success, and its value to 
the profession and to the community has been noticeable. At each 
meeting some interesting scientific topic has been discussed, many times 
by men from neighboring towns and cities who have presented papers 
and lectures, this being followed by light refreshments and general 
round table talk and social intercourse. 

Under the able administration of its officers, the first President 
being Dr. W. L. Vroom; Secretary, Dr. W. C. Craig; and Treasurer, 
Dr. George M. Ockford; and on through successive administrations, 
the society has grown and developed, its membership including all the 
physicians in Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick, Allendale, Midland 
Park, and Wyckoff. 

ORGANIZATIONS FOR YOUNG MEN 

Although Ridgewood is not a place where evil flaunts itself, it, 
nevertheless, takes the precaution of protecting its young men. The 
two most excellent institutions of their kind in the country have 
branches in Ridgewood. The Young Men's Christian Association and 
the Boy Scouts of America are indeed organizations of which to be 
proud. 

The Young Men's Christian Association 

The Young Men's Christian Association, having as its objective, 
the spiritual, social, mental, and physical welfare of men and boys, 
takes up its work where everything else leaves off and utilizes leisure 
hours, unemployed time, and idle hands. Its work is mostly accom- 
plished in the afternoons and evenings when the schools and business 
places are closed. 

The Ridgewood Association is wielding a wonderful influence not 
only in our own village and county, but also throughout the whole 
state and is one of its strongest organizations. 

It was founded in 1902 with a few members. Judge Cornelius 
Doremus served as its first President during 1902 and 1903, and until 
1906 the association occupied space in the Old Town Hall (Opera 
House). 

The Association has grown steadily, until it has attained, during 
the past four years, to the position of first rank in the State of New 
Jersey, in proportion to population, having at the present time 569 
members, 254 of whom are between the ages of 12 and 18 years, knoAvn 
as juniors and intermediates. 

The most notable advancement has been in the Religious Depart- 
ment and fully 80 per cent., of the boy membership, is enrolled in the 
Bible study classes. Of the 73 members taking the international Bible 
examination in 1916-17, all passed with an average of 95 per cent, 
and 13 passed with 100 per cent. This remarkable showing places our 

158 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

association as first in New Jersey and seventli in the United States in 
Bible study. 

The present building, erected on Oak Street in 1906, is 65 by 90 
feet and with the athletic field occupying a space 225 by 500 feet lends 
lo the various activities and serves to produce effective work in all 
departments. The total property investment is $32,500 free of all debt. 

The Jewell system of purifying the 20,000 gallons of water every 
24 hours is a great attraction the year round and is in constant use, 
as it insures an absolutely clear swimming pool for the members and 
their friends. Aside from this great attraction are two bowling alleys 
Avhere unusuallj^ high scores are rolled, the gymnasium of liberal di- 
mensions, the pool and billiard tables, the chess and checker boards, 
the reading room with 37 weekly and monthly magazines, and the ncAV 
library with a few hundred volumes. 

The athletic field has a most excellent baseball diamond, two tennis 
courts, and an eight-lap track, where the games of many of the organi- 
zations in town are held. This increases the usefulness of the Y. M. C. A. 
and makes it a community affair. 

Early in May of each year the baseball team takes up the summer 
activities and with its weeldy attraction presents most excellent enter- 
tainment to the people of Ridgewood and vicinity. Fully 5,000 attended 
the games during the 1916 season. The Y. M. C. A. team is strictly 
amateur, but plays the strongest semi-professional teams. Its best year 
was 1916, when it won 15 games, tied one, and lost four. 

Boy Scouts of America 

A branch of the Boy Scouts of America was organized in Ridgewood 
in 1910. The original officers were: 

President R. L. Roe, 

Vice-President F. F. Knothe, 

Secretary-Treasurer G. A. Schaible, 

Commissioner E. B. Lilly. 

Through the kindness of the Young Men's Christian Association 
the scout work was started in their building. As the membership in- 
creased more room was needed and in May, 1916, the Boy Scout organ- 
ization moved to its present headqiTarters in the basement of the Re- 
formed Church, the use of which was kindly granted by the consistory. 
Through the generosity of their many friends, the scouts were enabled 
to secure proper equipment to carry on the splendid work in a much 
larger way. 

The 70 scouts composing the organization are divided into three 
troops, each under the leadership of a capable scout master. Each scout 
is graded according to his accomplishments as tenderfoot, second class, 
and first class scouts. 

The object of the organization is to develop the boys morally, men- 
tally, and physically. The adherence by the boys to the scout oath and 
scout law are ways in Avhich the objective is attained. 

160 



PAST AND PRESENT 



COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS 

The Board of Trade 

The Board of Trade of the Village of Ridgewood was organized in 
1904 with James AV. Peai-sall, President ; Henry L. Patterson, Judge 
Cornelius Doremus and Peter Gr. Zabriskie, Vice-Presidents ; W. J. 
Fullerton, Treasurer; AValter W. Wilsey, Recording Secretary; and 
W. L. Dooley, Corresponding Secretary. 

The Publicity Department of the Board of Trade in 1905, first 
under the direction of M. T. Richardson and later under Collingwood 
Gordon, inaugurated one of the first campaigns conducted in the New 
York newspapers by a New York suburb. In this connection an at- 
tractive illustrated booklet, written by Henry P. Phelps, went through 
three editions and was distributed to about 15,000 people. 

As a result of a suggestion of one of its members, I. E. Hutton, a 
movement was started in 1906 to secure for the Village the property 
now forming the east Plaza which, with property acquired by the Erie 
Railroad on the west of the railroad, enabled Ridgewood to pave the 
■way for the handsome new station improvements which were secured 
during the administration of the present Mayor, the Hon. D. A. Garber. 

Charles Mulford Robinson, a recognized expert in town planning, 
was engaged to make a personal inspection of Ridgewood and to sug- 
gest a system of public improvements. His report was published by 
the Board of Trade in 1908. This organization disbanded several 
years ago. 

Business Men's Association of Ridgewood 

The Business Men's Association of Ridgewood was organized on 
November 6, 1916, by the following officers : 

President CrEOEGE R. Young, 

Vice-President 1. E. Hutton, 

Treasurer Hervey Terhuxe, 

Kecordinp Secretary C. C. Van EAfBUBGH. 

This association, which will be incorporated as soon as the necessary 
papers are filed, was formed to promote friendly business relations 
between the business men and the public; and in a broad sense, to use 
its influence in any and every way to help develop and advance the 
best interests of Ridgewood and its people. 

The member-ship has not yet been completed but it is estimated that 
there will be about 100 members. 



161 



CHAPTER IX 
BURIAL PLACES 

PARAMUS CHURCHYARD 

THE oldest burial place in Ridgewood is lliat adjoining the Paranius 
Church, the ground for which was given to the consistory of the 
church by Peter Fauconier in 1730. It is not known wdien the first 
burial occurred here, though the earliest edifice having been completed 
in 1735 renders it probable that interments took place soon after. Many 
of the memorial slabs bear the marks of age and many of the inscriptions 
are nearly obliterated. It is here that many of the earlier settlers as 
well as patriots of the Revolutionary War are buried. 

VALLEAU CEMETERY 

The Valleau Cemetery occupies a plot of ground opposite the Par- 
amus Church extending back from the Saddle River and is intersected 
by Harrison Avenue, Franklin Turnpike and the West Saddle River 
Road. The only part of it which has been used up to the present time 
is the section bounded by Harrison Avenue and Franklin Turnpike. 

With the exception of a small section purchased from David G. 
Ackerman, the land embraced in the cemetery was given to the Con- 
sistory of the Reformed Church of Paramus in 1750 by Magdalen 
Valleau, daughter of Peter Fauconier, in whose honor it is named. 
At this time an exchange of land with John Ackerman became neces- 
sary to determine definitely its boundaries. 

The cemetery was incorporated in 1859 and in November of that 
year rules and regulations affecting its management were adopted, to 
which the committee made additions in December of the same year. 
It is now one of the most beautifully appointed burial places in the 
county and its monuments and carefully maintained grounds bear 
witness to the tender memories clustering around it. 

TRUE REFORMED CHURCH CEMETERY 

On the corner of Ridgewood and South Pleasant Avenues and in 
the rear of the edifice of the Kenilworth Presbyterian Church is located 
the cemetery of the True Reformed Church, which was establislied by 
that society on a portion of the land donated to it by David Van Bus- 
kirk about the time of the building of their edifice in 1858. Since that 
time, however, the edifice has Ijeen sold' to the Kenilworth Presbyterian 
Church, its present occupants. 

Since its establishment the burial place has been used as a place 
of interment by many of the oldest families of the township. 



I(i2 



CHAPTER X 
SUMMARIZED FACTS, STATISTICS AND CHRONOLOGY 

Average altitude "2(30 feet 

])istance from New York 22 miles 

Trains between New York and Ridgewood ' More than 70 

Monthly commutation to New York: $7.75 or .00587 per mile. 

Estimated number of commuters to New York 1100 

Newspapers, weekly 2 

Number of telephones in service December 1, 1010 2236 

Church organizations 13 

Schools ( including High ) 6 

Schools in construction ( High ) 1 

Schools (Private) 2 

Public Library 1 

Hospital, complete ( Private ) 1 

Banks 2 

Building Loan Associations 3 

Y. M. C. A. (Completely equipped and free from debt) 1 

Area of Village 5.00 s<iuare miles or 3630 acres 

STKEE1S 

Villagt' — Improved by macadam or brick 29.14 miles 

Village — Unimproved 7.94 " 

( 'ounty Eoads 5.20 " 

Private 17.22 " 



Total 59.50 miles 

POPULATION 

1880 500 1905 3980 

1890 1047 1910 5416 

1900 2685 1915 ...0729 

NEW HOMES 

Average Average 

per year ])er year 

1875 to 1885 2to3 1907 to 1911 100 

1885 to 1895 8 to 10 1912 to 1915 35 

1895 to 1906 10 to 20 1916 50 

TOTAL PROPERTY VALUATION 

Year Land 

1907 $1,258,285 

1908 1,491,120 

1909 2,457.551 

1910 2.729.770 

1911 2.847,100 

1912 3.112.855 

1913 3.354.540 

1914 3.332.283 

1915 3.316,-305 

1916 3,302.760 

103 



Buildings 


Personal 


Automobiles 


Total 


$1,938,275 


$324,975 




$3,521,535 


2.535.500 


354.750 




4..38 1.376 


2.892.525 


434,800 




5.784,876 


3.275,225 


477,876 




6.482,877 


3.514,425 


493,541 




6.855.060 


3.773,025 


553,993 




7,439,873 


4,060,175 


511,807 


$102.3.-)0 


8,028,872 


4,274,525 


526,973 


] 06,700 


8,286.566 


4.418,250 


586,835 


149.825 


8.517,300 


4,520,000 


614,342 


165,610 


8,602,712 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

The taxable property in the Townsliip of Eidgewood in 1876, the first year as 
such, was as follows: 

Amount taxable to residents of the Township $608,710 

Amount taxable to non-residents of the Townsliip 175.250 

Total $783,960 

Xuniber of polls 303 

Number of dogs 156 

Amounts to be raised in the Township: 

State General Tax $1,235.07 

County Tax 2,165.35 

Bonded Debt and Interest 1,429.13 

State School Tax 1,616.51 

Poor Tax 403.89 

Koad Tax 1,000.00 

Township 200.00 

Total $8,049.95 

In addition to the above, the School Districts voted to raise a Special School 
Tax, as follows: 

District No. 61— Wholly within the Township $1,600.00 

District No. 45 — For the part in Ridgewood Township 276.58 

District No. 26 — For the part in Ridgewood Township 8.14 

Total Special Tax voted by District on property in 

Ridgewood Township . ". $1,884.72 

DERIVATION OF LOCAL NAMES 

RIDGEWOOD — Adopted because of its appropriateness, in 1866, at the suggestion 
of Mrs. Cornelia Dayton. 

BERGEN — Probably from "Bergen op Zoom." an important town in Holland. 

GODWINVILLE — From Abraham Godwin, of Revolutionary memory. 

HO-HO-KUS — One source says from Indian word meaning "cleft in the rock"; 
another autlioritv, from Indian word Mehokhokus, "red cedar." 

HOPPERTOWN— The former name of Ho-HoT\us, from the fact of its early settle- 
ment by the Hopper Family. 

PARAMUS — From Indian, Peremessing, because of the abundance of wild turkeys. 
First white settlers called it "Peremesse." 

SADDLE RIVER— Probably from Richard Saddler, a purchaser of lands from 
the Indians in 1674. 

A CHRONOLOGY OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD 

1662 — The land in the Paramus section of Ridgewood was purchased from the 
Indians by Albert Zabrowski or Saboraweski. 

1682 — Province of New Jersey divided into counties — Ridgewood then part of Essex. 

1687 — A grant of land was made by the Lords of the Province to Samuel Kingsland, 
of five hundred acres, in which is now Ridgewood, between the Ho-Ho-Kus 
Brook and Saddle River and a portion extending westerly to the Heights. 

1696— -The sale of the same tract of land was made to Peter Johnson for thirty-two 
pounds and t^n shillings. 

1698 — The same tract of land came in possession of Johann Van Emburgh. 

1700 — The first house Avas built by Johann Van Emburgh near Maple Avenue and 
was demolished about 1895. 

1709 — -Boinidaries of counties changed, Ridgewood becoming part of Bergen, town- 
ship of Barbadoes. 

1725 — The Paramus Chiirch congregation commenced worship in 1725 or earlier. 

1730 — First school established in Paramus section. 

164 



PAST AND PRESENT 



1735 — Paramus Church was erected on huul donated by Peter Fauconier. In ex- 
change ho received in perpetuity two sittings. The building was used 

during the Revolution as a hospital and prison. The present building was 

erected during the year 1800 and remodelled in 1875. 
1750 — jNlagdalen Valleau gave land for the Valleau Cemetery opposite the Paramus 

Church. 
1767 — Frani<lin Township, containing Kidgewood, set ofl" from Barbadoes Township. 
1770 — A schoolhouse was erected at the junction of Ilarristown and Roclc roads, 

just soutii of the Garret I. Hopper residence, now used as a dwelling and 

within the present limits of Glen Rock. 
1775 — John Fell, of Paramus, elected Chairman of Bergen County Committee of 

Safety. 
1776 — Washington encamped at Paramus after liis victory at Monmouth, and later 

in the year. Again at Paramus during 17S0. 
General Heath encamped at Paramus. 

General George Clinton encamped at Paramus; also in 1777. 
1777 — Colonel McClaughey encamped at Paramus. 

Colonel Aaron Burr achieved first military success near Paramus. 
1779 — Major Henry Lee — Headquarters at Paramus. 

VVasiiington army cantoned during August from Fort Defiance to Paramus. 
1780 — Lord Stirling — Headquarters at Paramus. 

Attack on Hackensack and Paramus by British, who returned to New York 

City with about fifty prisoners, mostly citizens and members of the 

militia. 
1785 — A schoolhouse was built at the Paramus Church. It was rebuilt in 1810, 

1820, 1845, and 1871, and was discontinued in 1905. 
1800— First grist mill built. 

1818 — The present oldest citizen, Jolui B. Van Dien, was born in Ridgewood. 
1823 — The Kenilworth Collegiate Church was organized as the True Reformed 

Dutch Church of Paramus. Present building erected in 1858. In 1870, 

reorganized as Kenilworth Church, and changed to the Presbyterian 

denomination in 1898. 
1829 — Locality afterward known as Godwinville — named in honor of Abraham 

Godwin, of Revolutionary memory. The oldest road in Ridgewood, and 

associated with the historic days of the Revolution, was known as the 

Godwinville Road. It is now called Ridgewood and Godwin Avenues. 
1840 — Center of present site of Ridgewood only contained one house. 
1848 — The Erie Railroad, then known as Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, opened 

through Ridgewood. 
1850 — First store started about this time near the station by Albert Hopper — near 

where the Hutton Building now stands. 
1853 — Captain Samuel Dayton purchased the Van Emburgh Estate, comprising a 

large part of Ridgewood, and started the first development and sale of 

plots. Other purchasers during the same year were Samuel Graydon and 

B. F. Robinson. 
The Van Emburgh, Hopper and Westervelt properties included almost the 

entire ground of the present Ridgewood. 
1859 — First railroad station built by the i;esidents and known as Godwinville. 
1860 — First shade tree planting along Village Highways by Captain Samuel Dayton, 

Samuel Graydon, A. T. Cameron, A. J. Zsbriskie, Richard Van Dien and 

B. F. Robinson on their Maple Avenue properties. 
Christ Church was organized. Cornerstone laid in 1865 on Van Dien Avenue. 

1873 the building was removed to Franklin Avenue and Cottage Place. 

Present building completed in 1900. 
1S61 — Old Glory waved on Paranuis ( hurch until close of Civil War. 
1S62 — -Citizens of vicinity left for PVderal Service with 22nd Regiment, New Jersey 

Infantry. Returned in 1863 after nine months' service. 
1865 — First Postmaster was Benjamin F. Robinson, with a salary of $10.00 per 

year. Present site established in 1912. 
1866 — -The Birth of Ridgewood. Present name adopted because of its apjiropriate- 

ness at suggestion of Cornelia (Mrs. William) Dayton. 
First Village streets laid out. 



165 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

1867 — First dwelling erected, after streets laid out, by T. V. Terhune on Oak Street. 
First private school established by Frederick Kidder in house now owned by 
M. T. Richardson on North Van Dien Avenue. 
1868 — Amelia Barr, the authoress, establislied private school on North Van Dien 

Avenue. 
1869 — Fidelity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, organized. 
1870 — Present Ridgewood House hotel established by J. W. Halsted. 
1872 — Franklin House hotel established on present site of Ridgeicood News. De- 
stroyed by fire of 1881 and never rebuilt. 
A brick schoolhouse erected on Union Street. This school building was the 
only school in center of Ridgewood until Beech Street building was com- 
pleted in 1895. It was then abandoned as a scliool and rented, first to the 
Methodist Church and then to the Colored Churcli. It was torn down in 
1903 to make place for tlie present school building. 
1874 — Ridgewood Avenue House established. In 1876 destroyed by fire and rebuilt 
same year. In 1893 remodeled and present name — Rouclere House — adopted. 
1875 — First Reformed Church established. Building completed in 1877. 
Extensive additions have been made in 1890, 1900 and 1914. 
First and only pastor to the present time — Rev. J. A. Van Neste. 
1876 — Ridgewood Township set off from Franklin Township. 
1877 — Private school established by Miss Rebecca W. Hawes. 

1878 — Dr. John T. De Mund first physician to practice in now the Village of Ridge- 
wood. 
1880 — First organized tree planting on highways. Trees were given by I. W. England 

and set out under the direction of B. F. Robinson and J. W. Edwards. 
1882 — First telephone subscriber was Garret Van Dien, then Postmaster, at 211 West 
Ridgewood Avenue. 
The African M. E. Church established. First building erected in 1885. Present 
building erected in 1907. 
1884 — Judge David D. Zabriskie first lawyer to practice in Ridgewood. 
1885 — Ridgewood Building and Loan Association organized. 

1888 — Wells Fargo Express ofliice established. First macadamized roads were built. 
1889 — Parish of the Church of our Lady of Mount Carmel established. First build- 
ing erected in 1890^ — present building completed in 1915. 
Opera House (Town Hall) completed. 

First newspaper established by Wni. J. Tonkin — The Ridgeicood Neics. 
1891 — Emmanuel Baptist Cluircli organized. First church structure dedicated in 
1892 and present one in 1912. 
Co-operative Building and Loan Association organized. 
Village Inn constructed and opened. 
1892 — Police Department established. 

Democratic Club organized. 
1893 — Ridgewood Club organized. 

Electric light was introduced. 
1894 — Village of Ridgewood incorporated, at which time Glen Rock and INIidland 
Park, previously part of Ridgewood, became separate boroughs. 
Dr. Walter Van Emburgh first dentist to practice in the Village. 
1895 — Paramus Valley Council, Royal Arcanum, organized. 
The Unitarian Society organized. 

Board of Health established and duties performed by Village Trustees. 
Historical display in Ridgewood under auspices of I3ergen County Historical 

Society. 
Beech Street High School Building opened. 
Methodist Church founded. Building erected in 1900. 
1896 — Fire Department organized as Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, 

with Dr. Walter Van Emburgh as Chief. 
1897 — Village Improvement Association organized. 

Present system of garbage collection established by Village Improvement 

Association and taken over by Village Trustees in 1903. 
Jiuiior Order United American Mechanics organized. 
Public Library established by Village Improvement Association. 

1G6 



PAST AND PRESENT 



1898 — 'White Star Club organized, later becoming the Town Club. 

A second newspaper — The Ridgewood Record — established by L. N. Taft, later 
succeeded by The Ridgcicood Herald. 
1SS>0 — First National Bank opened. 

First issiie of Ridgeicood Herald. 
1!)00 — Public Water Sui)ply, Gas, and Gamewell Fiio Alarm System were installed. 

Raniapo Valley Chapter, Daughters of The Revolution, organized. 

Last fire of a disastrous cliaracter. 

Eagle Hose Company, No. 1, organized. Later changed to Hose Company No. 1. 

Practice established of placing signs on houses containing contagious diseases. 
1001 — Ridgewood Golf Club organized; later merged with Ridgewood Country Club. 

Trees planted by citizens on Franklin, Godwin, and Ridgewood Avenues, 
through efforts of Village Improvement Association. 
1902 — ^Y. M. C. A. was founded. Present building erected in 1906 and entirely 
clear of debt in 1916. 

Woman's Auxiliary. Y. M. C. A., organized. 

Private School established by James B. Parsons. 

Part of Orvil Township added to northeastern portion of Ridgewood. 
1903 — Sewerage System installed. 

Mail delivery by carriers was commenced with three carriers. 

Old Union Street School Building demolished and a new one erect^-d and 
occupied in 1905. 

Paramus Valley Photographic Association organized. 

First Church of Christ Scientist organized. Building dedicated in 1912. 
1904 — Board of Trade organized. 

Ridgewood Branch National Association of Letter Carriers organized. 
1905 — Bethlehem Lutheran Church inaugurated. 

Mount Bethel Baptist (Colored) Church organized. 

Four-room school buildings erected and occupied on Kenilworth Place, Union 
and Monroe Streets. 
1906 — Ridgewood Trust Company opened. 

First Board of Health appointed. 
1907 — Glen Rock Building & Loan Association organized. 
1908 — The Arrow, a periodical of the Ridgewood High School, established. 
1909 — The Editor magazine moved to Ridgewood. 

Ridgewood Chapter. Order of -Eastern Star, organized. 

Village Shade Tree Commission established. 

Relief Society was organized. In 1913 name changed to Social Service Asso- 
ciation. 

Third District Court opened by Judge Cornelius Doremus. 

Orpheus Club organized. 

Woman's Club established. Federated in 1910 and incorporated in 1914. 
1910 — Upper Ridgewood Association organized. 

Linwood Park dedicated on Arbor Day and marked the beginning of a Park 
System. 

Kenilworth and INIonroe Street Schools were each enlarged from four to nine 
rooms. 

North Jersey Rapid Transit Company trolley road was opened. 

First celebration of the 4th of July was held by the Independence Day Asso- 
ciation. 

Voters' League organized. 

Ridgewood Country Club organized. 

Branch of Boy Scouts of America organized. 

The Federated Men's Club of the Churches of Ridgewood organized. 
1911 — Commission Government established. 

Alumni Association, Ridgewood High School, organized. 

Ridgewood Medical Society organized. 

Court Midland Park, Foresters of America, organized. 

Woodrow Wilson, then Governor of New Jersey, addressed citizens diuing 
political campaign. 

Daniel A. Garbcr elected first Mayor. 

Harrison Avenue School completed. 

107 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

Municipal Building erected. 

Eidgewood Country Club and Ridgewood Golf Club consolidated under the 
name of former. 
1912 — ^Tlie Cecilia Society organized. 

Kenilwortli Parents and Teachers' Association organized. 

Woman's Club of Upper Kidgewood organized. 

Republican Club organized. 

Junior Auxiliary, Daughters of the Revolution organized. In 1913 name of 
Penelope von Princips Chapter, Junior Sons and Daughters of the Revolu- 
tion, adopted and changed in 1914 to Theodosia Burr Chapter. 

Upper Ridgewood Primary School started. 

White Star Athletic Club name changed to Town Club. 

West Side Collegiate Church organized. Present building erected in 1913, with 
an additional wing in 1915. 

Ridgewood entertained on May 25th a President of the United Stated, for the 
first time in its history, in the person of President William Howard Taft. 

Present Post Office Building erected and occupied. 
1913 — Upper Ridgewood Community Church Society organized. 

C'ollege Club ( Woman ) organized. 

Woman's Political Union organized. In lOlti absorbed by the Woman's Suf- 
frage Association. 

Citizens and Taxpayers' Associ.ition organized. 

New High School site and Athletic Field — Heermance Place and Ridgewood 
Avenue, was purchased. 

Three portable school houses were placed on Beech Street school grounds. 

Paramus Chapter, New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution 
organized. 

West Side Collegiate Church dedicated. 

Company L, 5th Regiment, N. G., N. J., formed. 

Osman Building completed. 

Ridgewood Country Club House opened. 

Town Club moved to new quarters foi-merly occupied by Ridgewood Golf Club. 

Play House opened. 

Opera House rehabilitated. 

Police dogs introduced by Police Department. 
1914 — Ridgewood Council, Knights of Columbus, organized. 

Local Option League organized. 

Old elm at Ho-Ho-Kus marked by Ramapo Valley Chapter, D. R., as a route 
of Washington's Army. 

Tablet placed by New Jersey Society, S. A. R., in conjunction with Paramus 
Chapter No. 6 on Paramus Church to commemorate events of the Revolu- 
tionary W'ar connected with its history. 

Garden Club of Ridgewood organized. 

League for Creative Work organized. 

Recorder's Court established. 

Wilsey Building completed. 

Reformed Church House completed and dedicated. 

East Side Auto' Bus Line established. 

Public Service Railway Company's trolley line to Paterson opened. 

Fidelity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons purchased old Town Club quarters. 
1915 — ^Citizens' dinner to members of G. A. R. — 50th Anniversary of cementing of 
peace between North and South. 

Monroe Home and School Association organized. 

Woman's C^hristian Temperance Union organized. 

Ridgewood Rifle Club organized. 

Poition of northwestern ])art of Ridgewood annexed to Orvil Township. 

Contract awartU'd for new station and surrouiuling improvements. 

.Maple Avenue inipioved — new Anmsite roadway. Glen Rock to Ho-Ho-Kus. 

Cliurch of Our Lady of ^Nlount Carmel, new building completed. Prospect and 
Hudson Streets. 
1911] — Terhune's and Jackson's West Side Auto Bus Lines established. 

Community Christmas Festival established. 

108 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Citizens' High Scliool Assot-iation organized. 

\'ictoria School for Little Children established by Miss Vivia Victoria and 

named in memory of her mother, Metta Victoria Victor, the authoress. 
The Ixidgewood Times established by J. Douglas Gessford. 

Transcontinental Teleplione Demonstration over lines of the American Tele- 
phone & Telegraph Company between Kidgewood, San Francisco and Pase- 
dena, California. The first time in liistorv that ollicials of the Masonic 
Order extended verbal greetings to each other across the Continent. 
Semi-Centennial Association incorporated. 
School Board reduced by citizens' vote to live members. 
Preparedness Mass Meeting by citizens under the auspices of National Security 

League. 
Day Nursery opened. 
Coinpany L, Fifth Eegiment, N. G., N. J., in Federal Service on Mexican 

Border, stationed at Douglas, Arizona. 
Infantile Paralysis Epidemic; Bidgewood afflicted with onlv one ca^e not 

fatal. • ' 

]\idgewood Chapter, American Red Cross, organized. 

Grade Crossings at Ridgewood, Godwin and Franklin Avenues abolislied. 
New Erie Station, Godwin and Fi-anklin Avenue, underpasses ()i)ened to the 

public. 
New Upper Ridgewood School completed. 
Business Men's Association organized. 
Federation of Woman's Clubs" of New Jersey held semi-annual meeting in 

Ridgewood under the auspices of the Woman's Club of Ridgewood 
Emmanuel Baptist Cliurch celebrated 2oth Anniversary. 
Ground broken for new High School on Heermance Place. 
Old Railroad Station removed from former site to point below Ackerman 

Avenue on west bound tracks and turned into freight station. 
John B. Van Dien, Ridgewood's oldest citizen, celebrated his 98t'h birthday 

Slogan adopted by Semi-Centennial Association — TO LIVE LIVE TN 

RIDGEWOOD. 



Iti!) 



RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 

APPENDIX 

^emt==Centenatal dissociation 

Ridgewood, Ne"w Jersey 



VILLAGE COMMISSIONERS 

D. A. Garber, Mayor 
George U. White Dr. John B. Hopper 



ADVISORY BOARD 



George F. Brackett 
T. J. Foster 
Bayly Hipkins 
Franz Schwartz 
S. S. Walstrum 

J 



Dewitt Clinton, Jr. 
W. J. Fullerton 
Frederick Pfeifer 
J. H. Snyder 
H. G. White 
D. Van Emburgh 



OFFICERS 



Cornelius Doremus, Chairman 
G. M. Schinzel, Vice-Chairman 
Wilbur Morris, Secretary 
S. S. Walstrum, Treasurer 



F. Z. Board 
j. c. bogart 
.Joseph Turner 
J. H. Christopher 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Cornelius Doremus, Chairman 
G. M. Schinzel, Vice-Chairman 

Mrs. C. H. Eddy 

Mrs. W. D. Ferres 

H. W. Casler 

Wilbur Morris 

Mrs. C. M. Vail 



Bevier Smith 
Mrs. F. F. Knothe 

S. S. Walstrum 
R. T. Wilson 



F. A. DiMocK 

B. G. Smith 

C. C. Miles 
W. S. Moore 



PUBLICITY COMMITTEE 

H. W. Casler, Chairman 
W. F. Schmidt, Vice-Chairman 

C. H. Green 

D. R. DUSENBERRY 

A. Gamble 

W. W. WiLSEY 



E. B. Lilly 
B. D. Hilton 
H. R. Le Roy 



Mrs. E. E. Alley 
Mrs. C. F. Sheets 



MUSIC COMMITTEE 

Bevier Smith, Chairman 
Edmond Morey 
Mrs. Bertha E. Fritz 
Edward T. White 

170 



Albert H. Boyd 
Frank K.\sschau 



PAST AND PRESENT 



Ernest M. Bull 
Mrs. a. p. Topping 



ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE 

AIrs. C. H. Eddy, Chairman 

O. B. SURPLESS 

J. D. Craig 
F. V. AVatson 



Lewis R. Coxklin 
Mrs. H. H. Hawes 



F. H. Bog art 

W. J. FULLERTON 



FINANCE COMMITTEE 

F. Z. Board, Chairman 

Albert Shuman 
A. Frank Halsted 



H. C. Christianson 
Frank M. Stevens 



John J. Glynn 
Henry C. Smith 



PROGRAM COMMITTEE 

Mrs. C. M. Vail, Chairman 

Mrs. W. H. Stratton 
Dr. H. S. Willard 



W. H. Hendrickson 



Charles K. x\llen 
J. H. Dunning 



PLAN AND SCOPE COMMITTEE 

S. S. Walstritm, Chairman 

Franz Schwartz 
George N. Orcutt 



George T. Brackett 
C. H. Woodman 



Edward Brower 
J. W. Pearsall 
T. J. Foster 



RECEPTION COMMITTEE 

Mrs. W. D. Ferres, Chairman 

E. J. Muller 
w. j. dowling 
Harry G. White 



W. O. Dietrich 

F. C. ROBBINS 



Frank A. Baxter 
I. W. Travell 



HISTORICAL COMMITTEE 

R. T. Wilson, Chairman 

Judge D. D. Zabriskie 
J. H. Ward 



Miss Rebecca W. Hawes 
Everett Zabriskie 



C. C. Ackerman 
John McGuinness 



UTILITY COMMITTEE 

J. H. Christopher, Chairman 

J. U. White 
Charles D. Silleck 



Isaac E. Hutton 
George R. Young 



George Corsa 
E. B. Thornton 



J. E. Coyle 
Mrs. F. H. White 



FIREWORKS COMMITTEE 

Joseph Turner, Chairman 
J. J. Lannuier 

DECORATIONS COMMITTEE 

Mrs. F. F. Knothe, Chairman 
R. W. MuNS 



J. E. Madden 
W. H. Moore 



George M. Schinzel 
George A. Stevens 



TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 

J. C. BoGART, Chairman 



William R. Boyce 
George H. Stevens 



Samuel G. Graydon 



171 



J. Blauvelt Hopper 
W. L. Pl.\tt 



RIDGE WOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 



MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS 



Ackerman Bros. 

Ackerman, C. C. 

Ackerman, J. T. 

Aitken, J. G. 

Allen, Chas. K. 

Allen, W. F. 

Alley, Mrs. E. E. 

Anderson, Mrs. Gertrude P. 

Anderson, J. S. 

Andrews, A. E. 

Andrews, Chas. T. 

Anthony, Daniel 

Banta, Wm. C. 

Baxter, Frank A. 

Bedell, Albert M. 

Bergen, Acqueduft Co. 

Board, Fred Z. 

Bogert, F. H. 

Bogert, J. C. 

Bonham, R. C. 

Bopp, John 

Boyd, Albert H. 

Boyce, Wm. R. 

Boylston, J. W. 

Brackett, Geo. F. 

Brower, Edwards 

Bull, Ernest M. 

Buttery, H. I. 

Buzzard, Geo. S. 

Cable, Robert B. 

easier, H. W. 

Cavagnaro, John B. 

Childs, Geo. W. 

Christianson, H. C. 

Christopher, J. H. 

Clinton, De Witt, Jr. 

Conklin, Lewis R. 

Conklin, W. W. 

Corsa, George 

Corsilia, Joseph 

Coyle, John E. 

Craig, J. D. 

Craig, J. M. 

Daniels, E. J. 

Dawson, James R. 

Dietrich, W. O. 

Dimock, F. A. 

Doremus, Cornelius 

Dowling, W. J. 

Dreyfus, Fred. J. 

Dunning, J. H. 

Dusenberry, D. R. 

Eddy, Mrs. C. H. 

Estes, Harry E. 

Etesse, Mrs. Ida E. 

Ferres, Mrs. W. D. 

First National Bank 

Flint, M. S. 

Fobes, Hiram 

Ford, Howard H. 

Forster, B. D. 

Foster, T. J. 

Fritz, Mrs. Bertha E. 

Fullerton, W. J. 

Gage, Peter A. 

Gamble, Allen 

Garber, D. A. 

Graydon, Samuel D. 



Glynn, John J. 

Green, C. H. 

Groves, Robert 

Gurnev, Edward 

Halsted, A. Frank 

Harrison, A. 

Hawes, Miss Rebecca 

Hawes, Mrs. H. H. 

Hendrickson, W. H. 

Hilton, B. D. 

Hipkins, Baylv 

Hollistcr, H. H. 

Hopper, Dr. .John B. 

Hutton, Isaac 

Kasschau, Frank 

Keenan, J. J. 

Kemble, Geo. I. 

Keyser, Chas. S. 

Knothe, Mrs. F. F. 

Kraft, Henry P. 

Lane, W. A. 

Lannuier, John .1. 

Lawton, W. D. 

LeRoy, H. R. 

Lilly, E. B. 

Love, Aubrey 

Macdonald, E. S. 

McGuinness, John 

Madden, James 

Madden, J. E. 

Malefvt, K. E. de Waal 

Marx, H. S. 

Mellor, D. G. 

Miles, C. C. 

Moore, W. H. 

Moore, W. S. 

Morey, Edmond 

Morris, Wilbur 

Muller, Edward J. 

Muns, R. W. 

Murraj', Geo. H. 

Muster & Bauman 

Nagle, S. Jr. Coal & Grain Co. 

Neill, Mrs. Margaret V. 

Nicolai, Nathaniel 

Nutry, John 

Orcutt, Geo. N. 

Orne, Mrs. Anna M. 

Paramus Vallej' Chajjter R.A. 

Park, H. S. 

Parsons, J. B. 

Pearsall, J. W. 

Pfeifer, Frederick 

Pfeiffer, Geo. H. 

Piatt, W. L. 

Reeve, Arthur 

Reichard, Miss Martha 

Remington, W. E. 

Ridgewood Playhouse Co. 

Ridgewood Trust Co. 

Robbins, F. C. 

Rogers, Edgar W. 

Rohrs, Henry G. 

Ruegg, E. J. 

Scales, T. H. 

Scheelje, Wm. 

Schinzel, G. M. 

Schmid, Gus G. 

172 



Schmidt, W. F. 

Schwartz, Franz 

Silleck, Chas. D. 

Shuman, Albert 

Shumway, Albert 

Shutts, Mrs. C. F. 

Smith, Bevier 

Smith, Brainard G. 

Smith, Henry C. 

Snyder, J. H. 

Sowter, E. T. 

S. S. Walstrum-Gordon and 

Forman 
Stanley, Geo. A. 
Stevens, Frank M. 
Stevens, George A. 
Stevens, George H. 
Stockton, C. W. 
Stokes, James 
Stratton, Mrs. W. H. 
Sullivan, J. R. 
Surpless, Oliver B. 
Talbot, Herbert R. 
Telleen, S. F. 
Terhune, J. A. 
Thayer, Mrs. Josephine W. 
Thompson, Harry 
Thornton, E. B. 
Topping, Mrs. A. P. 
Tracy, Dr. W. A. 
Travell, I. W. 
Traver, H. G. 
Turner, Joseph 
Vail, Carl M. 
Vail, Mrs. C. M. 
Van Dien, E. B. 
Van Duyn, F. W. 
Van Emburgh, J. D. 
Van Emburgh, Wesley 
Van Huyck, J. Phillips 
Van Winkle, F. O. 
Volkmar, George G. 
Vreeland, Miss Maggie 
Walstrum, S. S. 
Ward, John H. 
Watson, F. V. 
Wessner, Dr. George A. 
White, Edward T. 
White, F. H. 
White, Mrs. F. H. 
White, G. U. 
White, H. G. 
White, Joseph L^. 
Whitney, H. E. 
Wilcox, A. M. 
Wilcox, R. N. 
AVillard, Dr. H. S. 
Willcox, M. B. 
Wilsey, Walter W. 
Wilson, R. T. 
Woodman, C. H. 
Wyckoff, J. Van Liew 
Young, George R. 
Zabriskie, Judge D. D. 
Zabriskie, Everett 
Zellweger, Henry 
Zellweger, Mrs. Henry 



PAST AND PRESENT 



The Semi-Centennial Songs of Ridgewood 



RIDGEWOOD MARCHING ON RIDGEWOOD'S NEW STATION 

Air — "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Air — "Marching Through Georgia." 

Fifty years have we been waiting for the Let us sing a joyous song, now the task 

coming of this day, is done. 

With its joy and pride and glorj' that shall Sing it as we ought to sing it, fifty summers 

never fade away; young; 

For ourselves and for our children have Sing it so the echoes shall resound our 



these blessings come to stay. 
While the years go marching on. 

Chorus 

Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
For Ridgewood's marching on. 

God has given us a country that is beau- 
tiful and free. 

And the bands of steel that bind us, reaching 
now from sea to sea, 

Make us brothers of all nations — those 
that are and are to be — 
As the years go marching on. 

Chorus 



homes among, 
Ridgewood's new Station is splendid! 

Chorus 

Hurrah, Hurrah, just see what you can see! 
Hurrah, Hurrah, it sure looks good to me. 
So we join in one accord — no one can dis ■ 
agree — 
Ridgewood is proud of the Erie! 

We've got a dandy Station and we've got a 

dandy town; 
We'll have a dandy High School and the 

taxes will come down; 
We need a Public Library to deck our civic 

crown, — 
Ridgewood is proud of its people! 

Chorus 

Fifty years ago to-day we hadn't much to 
boast; 

ere 



Ours the task to keep our freedom in its 

purity and might; 

Ours to grow in strength and beauty, free Qur Dutch and Swedish forefathers w 

our land from every bhght; j^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^l^^ ^^^^ 

Ours to share with weaker brothers every ^y^ ^^^^^ dreamed of bigness that came 

blessing m our sight, on us like a host, 

While the years go marching on. ^^-^^^^ ^^ ^^^.^ marching to Ridgewood. 



Chorus 



Chorus 



Let our watchword then be "Progress" Truly there are many here who scarce 

toward the highest and the best. can hold their tears 

Till we reach the goal we start for, let us When they see this "crying need" we've 

never pause to rest, hungered for for years; 

Living, loving, working, singing, with a Let us all be unrestrained and greet it with 

gladness and a zest, "three cheers"— 

While the years go marching on. Ridgewood is proud of its Station! 

Chorus Chorus 

Sing we now for dear old Ridgewood, 'tis How the good old-timers swore the thing 

the best town that we know; could ne'er be done; 

Let us work for it and love it, wherever we How the newer residents grew mad and 

may go; poked their fun! 

Ever forward, ever onward, ever upward They little knew the blarney of Virginia's 

may it grow, favored son — - 

As the years go marching on. Ridgewood is proud of Mayor Garber! 



Chorus 

— Carrie E. Fobes. 



77 Sunset Avenue. 



Chorus 



Melrose I'hur, July, l!)l(i. 



-John J. Glvnn. 



173 



